[0762]

I must say that the FIFA rule governing retaliation has been 'diluted' down the years and particularly in the pro footie game. Also the ignorant comments of tv pundits re certain 'match incidents' display this attempt to dilute this particular rule all based on 'their opinion' rather than the clear explanation of the rule itself. A referee has every right to send off a player who petulantly turns around and just pushes a player away and that rule should apply to every level of footie from schools footie upwards. IMO blatantly pushing a player, grabbing a player by the neck or throat, skin grabbing/nipping, kicking out at an opposing player, spitting at an opposing player - they are different forms of retaliation that any referee can penalise by issuing a red card. However, as we've observed often enough, the rule is not applied properly by lotsa pro referees and it's not unique to Scottish footie either.