Goalkeeper Clayton Ince believes referees are turning football in a game for “sissies” as Walsall decide against appealing their two red cards on Saturday.
Rhys Weston and Netan Sansara were dismissed inside the first 33 minutes of the remarkable 1-0 win at Brighton but Saddlers’ boss Jimmy Mullen believed an appeal would fail, meaning they will both be banned for three games, starting with Saturday’s visit of Carlisle.
Goalkeeper Ince who could only watch as defenders Weston and Sansara were sent off. He believes referees are ruining the game for players.
He said: “You can tell a player ‘don’t tackle’ or tell a player to watch his tackles but that is not how football was in the 70s. Now they are making it a sissy game of non-contact.
“I think they were really harsh because it was early in the game and he could have given them a warning. It wasn’t a dirty game and no-one goes out to damage a player.
“Referees are under pressure because they are under the spotlight. Players say the game is getting too soft but when we see things like that what can you do.”
Ince revealed he spoke to referee Mick Thorpe at the break to voice his opinions, because he felt so strongly about the dismissals.
He said: “I spoke to the referee at half time. I told him everyone had come to enjoy it and nobody had come to hurt anyone. He could have given them a yellow card and told them no more tackles.”
4 Comments
Where has Clayton been for the last 20 odd years?85% of footballers are sissies, they cry, bleat, swear, feign injury at the first sign of a tackle, dive at every oppourtunity (espescially in the box) shout and scream at the ref when a decsision goes against them, and some of the acrobatics are worthy of a gold medal at the olympics. On top of this, they are pampered, over payed and greed motivated, so now Clayton, will you please explain to me, what has all this got to do with Referee’s?
I am surprised they haven’t appealed against Sansara’a card……..def a yellow. Rhys’s is fair enough, late, high and studs up! I supposed they have considered the cost and the fact that we have Boertien and Taundry to cover left back.
BIG GAME SATURDAY…..Come on Walsall ( Imean the whole town) get down the Banks’s!!!
I don’t agree. Having watched the video replay replay several times * in slow motion, Rhys’s tackle was with one foot, along the groud and he hit the ball, the player fell over his leg and made a meal of it. Netan’s was a little more dubious but I thought it because of inexperiance & being naive. Maybe the Manager was a little to blame as the referee is a known stickler for no tackles, and he maybe should have warned the players.
But on saying that I agree with Clayton ….
Mick Thorpe also sent two player off in the Brighton home game against Gilligham and also gave Brighton a penalty. I think Brighton won 4-2.
He also sent two Walsall players off against Brighton. Analyse this please