Quote MrPhilb="MrPhilb"It's not difficult to sort out though is it
Yellows at the time to calm them down
Bans to punish them from the diciplinary on the Tuesday'"
But that's an argument to not send anyone off ever isn't it? Some things deserve harsher punishment and provide greater benefit to the non-offending team than a yellow card.
The kind of punching and fighting that went on between Magennis & Tuson was as bad as anything in the 80's just without the all-in mass brawls that used to follow it in the 80's. Both easily deserved a red. If you don't send them off for that then you're never going to send anyone off.
Hock was probably a bit unlucky because if you watch the footage you can see hes right in Thalers eyeline and all Thaler probably saw was a bit of handbags at the scrum followed by Hock holding LMS while punching him several times. I'd have been happy with a yellow for Hock but his own stupidity in the past will lead to refs taking a harsher line with him and so I don't think a red is outrageous in the circumstances.
I enjoy a good punch up as much as anyone (at pro level), but it should be at the right times and circumstances. This was not a tight game where emotions getting the better of players could be understood. The game was easily Wigans and players on both sides should know better.
Also, whilst understanding that emotions & tempers do overrun at times during tight games, we have to get it out of minds that punching someone in the head is somehow ok. Not only can it obviously lead to severe injury but I would argue that for every red-blooded male football fans' interest it might attract, it loses the interest of 2 cricket/tennis/athletic female fans & crucially their kids.
