Mar 25 2009
Brad Friedel Red Card Overturned
Aston Villa keeper Brad Friedel has had the red card he picked up at Anfield over the weekend overturned, and so will not suffer a one match ban. While this is good for Aston Villa, as Friedel is a fantastic keeper, the decision by the FA to overturn Friedel’s red card has raised a few questions. Firstly a question from me, how was Friedel’s takedown on Fernando Torres not a red card, according to the rules set by the FA?
When you watch the replay, Torres runs after the ball in the box, it’s clearly not a 50-50 ball as Torres is always favourite to get there first, Torres kicks the ball away from Friedel, upon which Friedel slides through a running Fernando Torres, sending the Spaniard flying. How is that not a red card? Even if you consider Friedel’s foul to be a professional one, it’s still a professional foul deserving of a red card, end of story.
Apparently referee Martin Atkinson, who handed Friedel his red card Sunday, also agrees with me, as the Professional Game Match Officials Board is planning to write the FA to discern the exact reason that Friedel’s red card was overturned. The PGMOB has said their major intention in understanding the FA’s decision, is so that referee’s can better interpret what the FA sees the regulations regarding red cards to be.
I say Aston Villa got lucky, and will now have their best goalkeeper available for when they face off against Manchester United after the International break. But something really needs to be clarified between the PGMOB and the FA, because under the current rules that govern the Premiership, Friedel’s foul was a clear red card.
