Match day suspensions. Never great.
Heartbreaking. Tear jerking. Close your eyes and picture the other big Gazza moment. All from a yellow card suspension.
Pick up two yellow cards at Euro 20016 and you are suspended for one game. Just two yellow cards in five matches and you could miss a semi final.
What makes the rule worse is unlike in the Champions League and other footballing tournaments, the slate is not wiped clean after the group stages. As a result, the yellow card rule is causing mass suspensions across the board as several players drop out of of the semi-final games thanks to their yellow cards.
If you’re a combative midfielder, or a defender that likes a tackle, missing one game of an now extended European Championship seems like an inevitability.
Aaron Ramsey and Mats Hummels are just some of the stars who will miss the Euro 2016 semi finals, and the rule has come in for criticism from a lot of football fans.
Being suspended for one match of seven-game tournament is equivalent to being out for 5.5 games in a league season.
— Daniel Storey (@danielstorey85) July 2, 2016
The Yellow Card rule is the absolute worst in soccer. Poor Ramsey, misses semi-final because of 2nd yellow in FIVE games.
— Faizal Khamisa (@FaizalKhamisa) July 1, 2016
Seriously FIFA has got to change this yellow card rule…too many important players missing in major games
— Corey Hansford (@TheeCoreyH) July 2, 2016
Italy have 11 players a yellow card away from missing the semi final, Germany, 5. Can't stand the yellow card rule this late in tournaments.
— Joe Musker (@JoeMusker_) July 2, 2016
Some commented that the slate should be wiped clean for players after a certain stage, to better allow players to make the later stages of the tournament.
Should have wiped the yellow card count after the round of 16. Such a daft rule.
— Lauren 🐝 (@fateiskind) July 1, 2016
I believe yellow card accumulation should reset after the group stages, then have a separate ruling for knockouts. Rule has to change.
— Joe Prince-Wright (@JPW_NBCSports) July 2, 2016
Of course where there are some complaints, there are others complaining about the people complaining.
https://twitter.com/JongsmaJongsma/status/749345121410383872
