Mateta

[Dutch Uncle]

Even if it was a genuine attempt to play the ball, you just can’t do that at head height with an opponent close by.  A header would have been OK and in the penalty box a punch. 

Horrific as Roberts' action was, I still maintain Schumacher-Battiston was worse - IIRC Schumacher changed his direction to collide with Battiston well after the ball had gone

[Filo]

Even if it was a genuine attempt to play the ball, you just can’t do that at head height with an opponent close by.  A header would have been OK and in the penalty box a punch. 

Horrific as Roberts' action was, I still maintain Schumacher-Battiston was worse - IIRC Schumacher changed his direction to collide with Battiston well after the ball had gone

I don’t think Battiston played again

[Dutch Uncle]

It was a life threatening incident, but gladly he did play again, including in the national team, although I don't think he was ever quite the same player afterwards

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Patrick_Battiston

[Ldr]

Even if it was a genuine attempt to play the ball, you just can’t do that at head height with an opponent close by.  A header would have been OK and in the penalty box a punch. 

Horrific as Roberts' action was, I still maintain Schumacher-Battiston was worse - IIRC Schumacher changed his direction to collide with Battiston well after the ball had gone

https://youtu.be/tGq7VcaHoqo?si=xS_GZFZIiVsAFHAh

[Draytonian III]

I can’t do a link so can someone please put the clip of Jason Cousins, Wycombe Wanderers 25/9/93 the “tackle “ on David Moss. It’s the worst one I’ve seen on a Rovers player ever

[andyst79]

Even if it was a genuine attempt to play the ball, you just can’t do that at head height with an opponent close by.  A header would have been OK and in the penalty box a punch. 

If the keeper goes in with his head what's to say the attackers not gonna put his foot in & try to nick the ball past? Keepers played the ball and protected himself I'd expect our keeper to do the same. Just unfortunate for me but you're entitled to your opinion

[IDM]

Even if it was a genuine attempt to play the ball, you just can’t do that at head height with an opponent close by.  A header would have been OK and in the penalty box a punch. 

Horrific as Roberts' action was, I still maintain Schumacher-Battiston was worse - IIRC Schumacher changed his direction to collide with Battiston well after the ball had gone

Agreed, hence the second worst challenge I have seen.

And no VAR back then too..

[IDM]

Even if it was a genuine attempt to play the ball, you just can’t do that at head height with an opponent close by.  A header would have been OK and in the penalty box a punch. 

If the keeper goes in with his head what's to say the attackers not gonna put his foot in & try to nick the ball past? Keepers played the ball and protected himself I'd expect our keeper to do the same. Just unfortunate for me but you're entitled to your opinion

Would still be the same offence.

Trying to play the ball at head height with the boot studs out is dangerous and reckless, when another player’s head is in close proximity.  It’s not just an opinion it’s reality.

[andyst79]

Even if it was a genuine attempt to play the ball, you just can’t do that at head height with an opponent close by.  A header would have been OK and in the penalty box a punch. 

If the keeper goes in with his head what's to say the attackers not gonna put his foot in & try to nick the ball past? Keepers played the ball and protected himself I'd expect our keeper to do the same. Just unfortunate for me but you're entitled to your opinion

Would still be the same offence.

Trying to play the ball at head height with the boot studs out is dangerous and reckless, when another player’s head is in close proximity.  It’s not just an opinion it’s reality.

The ball was chest height when he played it with his studs facing down , it's the momentum after that's done the damage. Yes it's a red card but I personally don't think it was a malicious challenge as he was totally focused on the ball as he races out, and if it wasn't for the fact he needed 25 stitches in his ear I doubt much more would have been made of the incident.

[ravenrover]

Even if it was a genuine attempt to play the ball, you just can’t do that at head height with an opponent close by.  A header would have been OK and in the penalty box a punch. 

If the keeper goes in with his head what's to say the attackers not gonna put his foot in & try to nick the ball past? Keepers played the ball and protected himself I'd expect our keeper to do the same. Just unfortunate for me but you're entitled to your opinion

Would still be the same offence.

Trying to play the ball at head height with the boot studs out is dangerous and reckless, when another player’s head is in close proximity.  It’s not just an opinion it’s reality.

Just ask Tommy Rowe last season

[drfchound]

Even if it was a genuine attempt to play the ball, you just can’t do that at head height with an opponent close by.  A header would have been OK and in the penalty box a punch. 

Horrific as Roberts' action was, I still maintain Schumacher-Battiston was worse - IIRC Schumacher changed his direction to collide with Battiston well after the ball had gone

Agreed, hence the second worst challenge I have seen.

And no VAR back then too..

And even worse, Schumacher showed no remorse or care for the injured player.

[Chris Black come back]

I can’t do a link so can someone please put the clip of Jason Cousins, Wycombe Wanderers 25/9/93 the “tackle “ on David Moss. It’s the worst one I’ve seen on a Rovers player ever

Really terrible assault. Moss got straight up though! He was only a part time player as well. Insurance broker by day.

[IDM]

Even if it was a genuine attempt to play the ball, you just can’t do that at head height with an opponent close by.  A header would have been OK and in the penalty box a punch. 

If the keeper goes in with his head what's to say the attackers not gonna put his foot in & try to nick the ball past? Keepers played the ball and protected himself I'd expect our keeper to do the same. Just unfortunate for me but you're entitled to your opinion

Would still be the same offence.

Trying to play the ball at head height with the boot studs out is dangerous and reckless, when another player’s head is in close proximity.  It’s not just an opinion it’s reality.

The ball was chest height when he played it with his studs facing down , it's the momentum after that's done the damage. Yes it's a red card but I personally don't think it was a malicious challenge as he was totally focused on the ball as he races out, and if it wasn't for the fact he needed 25 stitches in his ear I doubt much more would have been made of the incident.

I don’t think there was malice either, but dangerous and reckless nonetheless..

[dickos1]

Even if it was a genuine attempt to play the ball, you just can’t do that at head height with an opponent close by.  A header would have been OK and in the penalty box a punch. 

If the keeper goes in with his head what's to say the attackers not gonna put his foot in & try to nick the ball past? Keepers played the ball and protected himself I'd expect our keeper to do the same. Just unfortunate for me but you're entitled to your opinion

Would still be the same offence.

Trying to play the ball at head height with the boot studs out is dangerous and reckless, when another player’s head is in close proximity.  It’s not just an opinion it’s reality.

The ball was chest height when he played it with his studs facing down , it's the momentum after that's done the damage. Yes it's a red card but I personally don't think it was a malicious challenge as he was totally focused on the ball as he races out, and if it wasn't for the fact he needed 25 stitches in his ear I doubt much more would have been made of the incident.

It was being spoken about everywhere long before the stitches were done.
He went for the ball no doubt, but it is still a ridiculous challenge

[turnbull for england]

I can’t do a link so can someone please put the clip of Jason Cousins, Wycombe Wanderers 25/9/93 the “tackle “ on David Moss. It’s the worst one I’ve seen on a Rovers player ever

https://x.com/wwfcofficial/status/1256501450924003332?t=XUz1Kf1VzjmC7IDJMsC-Vg&s=19

[Usher wide.]

Even if it was a genuine attempt to play the ball, you just can’t do that at head height with an opponent close by.  A header would have been OK and in the penalty box a punch. 

If the keeper goes in with his head what's to say the attackers not gonna put his foot in & try to nick the ball past? Keepers played the ball and protected himself I'd expect our keeper to do the same. Just unfortunate for me but you're entitled to your opinion

Would still be the same offence.

Trying to play the ball at head height with the boot studs out is dangerous and reckless, when another player’s head is in close proximity.  It’s not just an opinion it’s reality.

The ball was chest height when he played it with his studs facing down , it's the momentum after that's done the damage. Yes it's a red card but I personally don't think it was a malicious challenge as he was totally focused on the ball as he races out, and if it wasn't for the fact he needed 25 stitches in his ear I doubt much more would have been made of the incident.

It was being spoken about everywhere long before the stitches were done.
He went for the ball no doubt, but it is still a ridiculous challenge

Been given a further 3 match ban. It wasn’t a ridiculous challenge it was a dangerous one however, the flack he & his family are receiving on ‘the good old’ social platforms IS ridiculous.

[idler]

Maybe if the ref had given it immediately and sent him off there would have been less controversy. It was a challenge that should never have been made and though he never intended to hurt him he was out of control once he jumped in. Imagine if his studs had hit his eye instead of his ear.

[ravenrover]

Just seen it today for the 1st time, impossible to be anything other than a red even though in my day it would probably just have been a telling off and a free kick

[drfchound]

Maybe if the ref had given it immediately and sent him off there would have been less controversy. It was a challenge that should never have been made and though he never intended to hurt him he was out of control once he jumped in. Imagine if his studs had hit his eye instead of his ear.

I think that sometimes players could do themselves a big favour when they hurt an opponent by going over to see if they are ok and not just walk away as if they don’t care.

[IDM]

Even if it was a genuine attempt to play the ball, you just can’t do that at head height with an opponent close by.  A header would have been OK and in the penalty box a punch. 

If the keeper goes in with his head what's to say the attackers not gonna put his foot in & try to nick the ball past? Keepers played the ball and protected himself I'd expect our keeper to do the same. Just unfortunate for me but you're entitled to your opinion

Would still be the same offence.

Trying to play the ball at head height with the boot studs out is dangerous and reckless, when another player’s head is in close proximity.  It’s not just an opinion it’s reality.

The ball was chest height when he played it with his studs facing down , it's the momentum after that's done the damage. Yes it's a red card but I personally don't think it was a malicious challenge as he was totally focused on the ball as he races out, and if it wasn't for the fact he needed 25 stitches in his ear I doubt much more would have been made of the incident.

It was being spoken about everywhere long before the stitches were done.
He went for the ball no doubt, but it is still a ridiculous challenge

Been given a further 3 match ban. It wasn’t a ridiculous challenge it was a dangerous one however, the flack he & his family are receiving on ‘the good old’ social platforms IS ridiculous.

The extra ban is justified; the abuse is not.