Match day suspensions. Never great.
Heartbreaking. Tear jerking. Soul destroying. All from a yellow card suspension.
Pick up two yellow cards at Euro 2016 and you are suspended for one game. Just two yellow cards in five matches and you could miss a semi-final.
What makes the rule worse is, unlike in the Champions League and other footballing tournaments, the slate is not wiped clean after the group stages.
As a result, the yellow card rule is causing mass suspensions across the board as several players drop out of the semi-final games thanks to their yellow cards.
If you’re a combative midfielder, or a defender that likes a tackle, missing one game of a now-extended European Championship seems like an inevitability.
Aaron Ramsey, Ben Davies and Mats Hummels are just some of the stars who will miss the Euro 2016 semi-finals, and the rule has come in for criticism from a lot of football fans.
Being suspended for one match of seven-game tournament is equivalent to being out for 5.5 games in a league season.
— Daniel Storey (@danielstorey85) July 2, 2016
The Yellow Card rule is the absolute worst in soccer. Poor Ramsey, misses semi-final because of 2nd yellow in FIVE games.
— Faizal Khamisa (@FaizalKhamisa) July 1, 2016
Seriously FIFA has got to change this yellow card rule…too many important players missing in major games
— Corey Hansford (@TheeCoreyH) July 2, 2016
Italy have 11 players a yellow card away from missing the semi final, Germany, 5. Can't stand the yellow card rule this late in tournaments.
— Joe Musker (@JoeMusker_) July 2, 2016
Some commented that the slate should be wiped clean for players after a certain stage, to better allow players to make the later stages of the tournament.
Should have wiped the yellow card count after the round of 16. Such a daft rule.
— Lauren 🐝 (@fateiskind) July 1, 2016
I believe yellow card accumulation should reset after the group stages, then have a separate ruling for knockouts. Rule has to change.
— Joe Prince-Wright (@JPW_NBCSports) July 2, 2016
Of course where there are some complaints, there are others complaining about the people complaining.
https://twitter.com/JongsmaJongsma/status/749345121410383872
