Spanish ref shows 19 red cards in one game

This from the Daily Telegraph:

“Recreativo Linense were beating Saladillo Algesiras 1-0 in the regional first division of the southern province of Cadiz before referee Jose Manuel Barro Escandon stopped the match.

Escandon had already issued one red card before a fight broke out between two players which escalated into a brawl involving several players from both teams and spectators who invaded the pitch.

The referee stopped the match before fleeing to the safety of the changing rooms.

In his post-match report, he stated that he had sent off 19 players.

Linense coach Sebastian Naranjo said the red cards were unjustifed: “After the altercation between Francis and Aguilar, there were no clashes.

‘The players who intervened, and even the spectators, were just trying to see that things didn’t get worse. I don’t know what got into the guy [the referee].’”

Nineteen players in one match. A wee bit excessive?

Anorak

Posted: 6th, January 2009 | In: Sports Comment | Follow the Comments on our RSS feed: RSS 2.0 | TrackBack | Permalink