Over the last few season’s our game has been blighted by the blatant use of the arm in tackles. Never was this better illustrated than in Norn Iron’s last two International games. Norn Iron’s Keith Gillespie was rightly cautioned in the game against Liechtenstein for blatant use of the arm, a caution that forced him to miss last night’s victory over the hitherto unbeaten Swedes. The referee on Saturday night came down hard on Gillespie, but there were few incidents of that nature in the remainder of the game. Then we had the complete contrast last night, when the Dutch referee (who’s one claim to fame, is that he allowed Manchester United to take a quick free kick in a recent Champions league game), allowed the Swedes to get away without caution for incessant use of the arm. Indeed the game was barely started when home player Warren Feeney was deliberately elbowed in the eye by a Swedish defender. This elbow was so deliberate that under normal circumstances it should’ve warranted a straight red, but not only did it not earn the culprit a caution, but the final insult was the awarding of a free kick to the visitors. Feeney for his troubles had to have two stitches inserted on a wound above his left eye, but returned to play a memorable role in a magnificent victory for our wee country. Sweden obviously encouraged by the referee’s ignorance of the elbowing rule continued to put the arm into our boys and I’m sure there are quite a few bruises being nursed today. But tempered with the referee’s reluctance to issue cautions to the Swedes for their arm play, he harshly booked home player Damien Johnston for a late tackle. The time has come for the authorities to come down hard on this foul play and where better to start than at international level. Use of the elbow or any part of the arm should merit an automatic sending off, if this rule was introduced I believe it wouldn’t be long until it was completely absent from the game!
<< Home