UEFA Championship - How do you feel about Lehmann's Red Card?
538783
I'm trying to take a neutral stand in this but am really veering to tipping off the edge.  That must have been the most shocking display of refereeing I have seen in years!  The advantage was there and clearly played for the Lehmann red card, surely common sense should prevail and allow the goal and let us have a game of 11 v 11, rather than ruin the next 70 or more minutes by forcing Arsenal down to 10 men.\n\nThe Henry yellow card was a joke! Van Bommell had been kicking chunks out of the arsenal players all game and hardly even got a free kick against him, then Henry win a fair challenge and is cautioned!\n\nThere were many other examples of favoritism towards the Spaniards and I'm not just talking about the fact that the original choice linesman was posing in a Barca shirt before the game.\n\nFor a neutral it ruined what promised to be a truly great final, especially after the start when Arsenal were attacking. From an English point of view it a travesty, I guess from a Spanish point of view it would be hard lines!\n\nI've said my bit but man am I still mad!
1126732
I feel your frustration and I am in agreement with your assessment. Too many false red-cards have found their way from referees pockets into play during this cup -- which is completely opposite from the 2002 World Cup play (battles).   I like the game but these politics keep me from devoting too much time to following this sport professionally.
1055244
Wasn't it the Netherlands vs. Portugal???\n\nI personally thought that the players' conduct was far beyond the control of the referee and that he did the absolute best job that he could have.  I know that he missed some calls, but all the bookings he made were all correct.  I think the players just lost their heads. If he tried to discipline absolutely everything, there probably would have been 10 sendings-off.
1093560
Well, first I thought he is ruining the match, but we should know that the referee is just following the rules given by FIFA, in this case Sepp Blatter. And I just don't understand why the FIFA president blast the referee when all he does is following his rules. I said, yellow card to Sepp Blatter.
650707
Didn't sway the game, but his impulsiveness definitely altered its complexion... the match looked like it would have been amazing 11 v 11, but the sending off (which was fair, although a goal and a yellow would have been too) didn't allow the game to flourish. I think Lehman would have saved the 2nd Barca goal. IMO Arsenal deserved to win (played better) and probably would have if it weren't for the rain which made them use more energy and made the ball move faster (suited Barca). Always next year.
425339
I think that Kahn is nowhere near to being the player he was in 2002 when he was player of the tournament but he is still a very good goalkeeper. Lehmann has improved a great deal compared to his initial months at Arsenal, but he can still be a bit suspect on occasion. To be quite honest, there is not much to choose between them. Furthermore, a great deal of the fact that Germany keeps so many clean sheets is down to the good defensive organization of the team as a whole which limits the chances of the opposing side. Personally, I think that the most important thing is to be consistent - to pick one keeper and stand by the decision. I would have liked to see Oliver Kahn have one last hurrah at this World Cup but I am equally happy to see Lehmann get his chance. I don't think it will seriously harm Germany's chances either way.
1112904
ya i think that the refing was unfair, but not just agianst france agianst switzerland too. i did not like that yellow card agianst Phillip Degen. but there were miscalls on both sides
516263
I was, but stormed out in disgust when West Ham got their second goal. Hope the reds pull it back, but I really can't bear to watch!!\n\n\nYAY they did it!!! Now the question should be why can't Liverpool FC train the England goalie?!
753523
i think the underlying Q is, does he deserve it?  the guy's got skills certainly but i could name several defenders who did a better job than him. he was hyped up by the media bec. italy needed a hero and sorry to say this, but there wasn't one who really stood out in the team, not even buffon bec. lehmann was light years better than him. jens had a LOT of defending to do and he shone at his job. maybe i'm blind, ignorant, biased, etc. but i saw all of italy's games xcept for that match with australia and i wasn't impressed with cannavaro at all. it was zambrotta and pirlo (to a lesser degree) who got my attention. cannavaro prob. got it bec. some ppl perversely felt something had to be rectified with the "premature" voting in the world cup which resulted in the "erroneous" giving of the golden ball to zidane and cannavaro having placed # 2 in that voting, was the logical beneficiary of the token act. that's ok if we confine it to performances in the wc but i get the sense that the ballon d'or had a wider criteria and as in the past, league performances had to be taken into account as well, not just the wc. which is where, in my limited understanding, this award goes terribly wrong bec. if that was  done then the prize should have gone to someone else. anyway, that's just my opi and i'm no certainly no expert.
1140773
WHAT?? \n\nthe ref was just an idiot! not looking where he shouldve .. both teams were completly out of control and that refs carreer is over. \n\nand to answer you quesion.. how many people would kick a man on the chest inside the box and not even get a yellow? ..it was a sad game to watch..
550537
arsenal clearly is the better team even down 2-1, lehmann would have easily saved that second goal maybe even the first one showing that bogus red card was huge not to mention being down to 10 men. if they dont end up winning real fast they have been robbed of the championship! 11 v 11 with lehmann i bet they would be winning 2-0! go arsenal!
330885
I agree that Totti is a moron, especially after the spitting incident.  That is bad sportsmanship in my opinion.  Regardless if people on the stands boo you, or whatever happens during a game, there is no reason to behave in such a manner.  I hope he doesn't get to play at all at the World Cup this summer in Germany.No disrespect to Italy fans.
1081126
Pablo is absolutely correct. The goal should have been allowed as that Croatian player involved should not have been on the field anyhow. The other disallowed goal is questionable also. From one angle it looks like the keeper protected the line, from another it looks as though it touched and ventured slightly over the goal line. Well anyhow doesn't matter now, we are through with no thanks to FIFA for their continual appointment of inept referee's. They had better not come out and defend this twats performance as they have the others with the claim they have done well and the decisions have been justified. I refuse to accept that a referee at this level has difficulty counting to two. My one year old can do that. He was abysmal. He should be already on a plane home if FIFA are fair dinkum in wanting good games and performances from all.
1101498
Oh there IS A LOT OF CONSISTENCY.  We don't understand it YET but there is a lot of purpose in all ll those seemingly crazy decisions.  I predicted, two days before the Portugal Holland match that there would be 8 yellow cards and 4 red cards .I was wrong on the yellows... there were 16, not only 8.  --- Referee had a job to do only he did it badly and not in accordacnce with whoever instructed him to act that way.  I read that Figo has never had a red card in his career that Deco has never had a red car.Costinha has never had a red card, so what happend IN THAT MATCH ?  English hero of 1966 Bobby Charlton said and I quote him "IT IS LOVELY TO PLAY AGAINST THE PORTUGUESE, THEY JUST GET ON WITH IT AND DON'T CHEAT OR DIVE !" So what happened against Holland ?  What happened is that is it is all been decided that England will wint the World Cup.  The whole thing of Football is beginning to stink.
582121
U cant say that the referee spioled the game.............as Lehman deserved a red card for such a bad movement from his part. Rather.......... Arsenel played very well even if they were only 10... But........as all u know Barca should win and they made it possible for their fans. If the defence of Arsenal were cautious especially in the last 15 minutes............ they should have won. Moreover..... Arsen Wenger shold have called Fabregas instead of Pires...coz Henry's confidence seemed to be coming down..... as he lacked support from the mid field
1086709
Finally someone that is honest and does not "cry" on injustice and similar bs.\nYou are perfectly right: Viduka should have been substituted as soon as the (illegitimate) red card was given to Materazzi. Hiddink continued to play with five midfielder (against three of Italy) that had superior possession of the ball, but they were too slow and not efficient on penetrate the Italian defense, because the only striker (Viduka) was perfectly controlled by Cannavaro. Hiddink should have replace Viduka and allowed even another striker to be on the field.\n\nbtw: I am Italian, but I like soccer and I like to watch the game without being biased.
654964
Feel sick the way it turned out.It had all the signs of a classic game after 15 minutes.The ref should have given Lehman yellow and awarded the goal.It would have been great to see us try to fight back because we were on form.Gutted for Super Rob(Pires) too.I am proud of the way they played with 10 men.They could have been more gracious in defeat but emotions were running high straight after the game.Henry will stay and we'll be back!Goooooners forever.