UK Edition
Raheem Sterling’s dismissal for celebrating wildly after scoring the winner at Bournemouth may have been correct according to the letter of the law, but it was unnecessary and it is a shame that the aftermath spoiled what should have been a marvellous moment.
Sometimes the best thing you can do as a referee is to blow the whistle and call time. With 97 minutes gone, that is what I would have done on Saturday.
When we coach referees, we always talk about “no surprises” and this was definitely a case of when common sense should have been applied.
The laws say that a player is permitted to celebrate, even to the point where he or she can leave the field of play. But the player must return as soon as possible, refrain from climbing any perimeter fences and not do anything that causes safety or security issues at the ground.
Presumably, Mike Dean was concerned that, by engaging with the supporters in that way, there could have been a surge in the crowd. He may have thought this is completely over the top and felt compelled to act. Unfortunately, there is no appeal against a second yellow card, so Sterling must live with the consequences.
What players have to learn is that, just as they have a duty of care to their opponent in a tackle situation, so they have a duty of care to the crowd in stopping any sort of surges.
Of course, in the days of all-seater stadiums these should never happen anyway, but a quick look at the TV replays showed there clearly was a security issue in terms of jubilant supporters encroaching on to the pitch.
The FA should definitely have a word with Bournemouth about the sort of arrangements they have in place because they do not seem to have been adequate. This is a modern stadium so why was the crowd allowed to breach the wall of stewards? Bournemouth will have to explain how they intend to prevent this happening in future.
Hopefully, this incident will also educate the players. No one wants to stop them celebrating because that is part of the theatre of football these days. When players score, particularly a late winner, they obviously get very passionate. But this is all about balance.
Personally, I never booked anyone for excessive celebrations, but I remember in Europe the days when players used to leap on fences to celebrate after scoring goals.
My overall feeling is that the whole affair could and should have been handled better and it is a shame it has taken attention away from what we should have been talking about, which is how to outlaw such challenges as the one Watford’s Miguel Britos perpetrated on Anthony Knockaert. That was the real disgrace of the weekend.
- Keith Hackett is a former referee and resident expert for You-Are-The-Ref.com
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Mike Dean missed a trick with Raheem Sterling - he should have blown for full time