Following the Classico between Paris Saint-Germain and Olympique de Marseille on Sunday evening, won by PSG 5-0, Vitinha’s tackle on Leonardo Balerdi (27-year-old defender) in the 8th minute was widely discussed, with the 25-year-old Parisian midfielder receiving “only” a yellow card.
“It does not constitute a clear foul according to the Laws of the Game.”
“The Parisian player intervened with his left leg forward, and his sole made contact with the Marseille player’s right shin. However, the contact was not accompanied by prolonged pressure, and the Parisian player’s leg was bending, thus limiting the physical impact.
Consequently, the absence of excessive force in the action allowed the referee to consider that a red card was not unavoidable. The referee’s decision, particularly precise in his analysis of the situation on the field, did not constitute a clear error under the Laws of the Game.”
Vitinha’s foot was too high, that much is undeniable. And the replay at the moment of contact was quite negative, with a red card that could have been understood. Moreover, it is not stated here that it would have been a bad decision. However, the yellow card was also justified because the Portuguese player was bending his leg to avoid a forceful collision with Balerdi.
That small gesture to pull his leg back was crucial and wasn’t emphasized enough by the pundits. That’s what makes the tackle difficult to judge. The yellow card wasn’t a mistake, and perhaps the red card wasn’t entirely wrong either. There’s an element of interpretation that always makes refereeing difficult.
