Unless your name’s Marcos Rojo, a two-footed challenge usually only ends one way.
Jamie Vardy was reminded of this on Saturday afternoon, when he was given his marching orders in the first half of Leicester City’s match at Stoke by Craig Pawson (the same referee who didn’t send Rojo off in midweek).
Even though the England international did indeed have both feet off the ground as he tried to win the ball from Mame Biram Diouf, some felt the decision to send him off was harsh. Just look at Dion Dublin’s reaction…
Wow. Dion Dublin can't believe that red card for Jamie Vardy #LCFC https://t.co/fT9ipwCSEu
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) December 17, 2016
As we tell you every week, we’re not allowed to show you the footage, although the following stills give you a good enough impressions of exactly what happened.
Before the attempted tackle, Vardy goes shoulder to shoulder with Glen Johnson as he chases down the ball.
As he attempts to make the tackle, contact from Johnson appears to cause Vardy to lose his balance slightly.
Instead of pulling out of the tackle, Vardy clearly has both feet in the air as the ball approaches Diouf.
Vardy takes the ball and very little (if any) of Diouf, but the fact that two feet were off the ground was enough for Pawson to give him the red.
