June 15th 2024.
During Spain's Euro 2024 match against Croatia, there was a moment that caused quite a stir among football fans. The incident involved Spanish player Rodri, who was lucky enough to escape a red card for a cynical foul. Many were left scratching their heads at the referee's decision to only show a yellow card to Rodri, despite what seemed like a clear "professional foul" on Croatia's Bruno Petkovic.
The game itself was a highly anticipated one, as Spain faced off against a nation known for their success in major tournaments. Despite the pressure, La Roja managed to secure a convincing victory. Alvaro Morata opened the scoring for Spain just before the half hour mark, and Fabian Ruiz doubled the lead only three minutes later. By half-time, Dani Carvajal had added a third goal for Spain, making the second half a formality.
Croatia did manage to earn a penalty in the final 10 minutes of the game, giving them a glimmer of hope. However, their frustration only grew when Rodri's challenge on Petkovic resulted in a yellow card instead of a red. Referee Michael Oliver's decision was then reviewed by VAR Stuart Atwell, who deemed that Rodri had followed the recently updated IFAB rules and therefore did not warrant a red card.
This new rule regarding red cards has caused some confusion among football fans and players alike. The idea is that if a player makes a natural attempt to win the ball, they should not be given a red card, even if it means denying a clear goalscoring opportunity. Just a couple of seasons ago, Rodri's challenge would have almost certainly resulted in a red card and a two-game suspension. But under the new, more lenient rules, it takes a truly cynical challenge for a player to receive both a penalty and a red card.
In the end, Croatia's frustration continued as Unai Simon saved Petkovic's penalty, only for the subsequent successful follow-up to be ruled out due to a teammate encroaching as he took the spot kick. It was a bittersweet moment for the Croatian team, who were left wondering what could have been if Rodri had been sent off earlier in the game.
Despite the controversy surrounding Rodri's challenge, Spain emerged victorious and made a strong statement in their opening match of the tournament. Only time will tell if the new rule regarding red cards will continue to cause confusion and debate in the world of football.
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