OK, so it looks like this is going to be an interesting one
with 2 major flashpoints taking centre stage. Riordan & McGregor
In my opinion, both players were correctly cautioned in this instance. Derek Riordan was cautioned correctly for adopting an aggressive attitude as he does 'square up' to McGregor. McGregor was yellow carded for either the simulation or for adopting an aggressive attitude as well, I know there has been comment regarding a yellow card for both offences but that just doesn't happen. Imagine a player then tackling another player unfairly, he's then confronted by an opponent and 'adopts an aggressive attitude' back towards him..you would not caution the player for the original challenge then send the player off with a second caution. The official stance is that if two offences are committed at the same time you take action on the most serious.
It is standard refereeing practice, and a directive, to book both players from each side when situations like this arise and is a 'must do' when there is confrontation involving players from both teams.
I've since read on the forums that MacGregor should have been sent off at the time of the offence but I'm afraid that there is no opportunity in the laws of the game to send of a player for simulation. There can also be no further punishment to MacGregor as the referee has already dealt with the situation on the field of play.
Consequently, Riordan also has no right of appeal for a caution.
McBride and Lafferty
McBride was correctly ordered off, if you go by the letter of the law in so much as he used the ball to commit the actual offence of violent conduct against another player. I have no doubt at all that Brines had already blown for the offence against Lafferty and clearly saw that McBride used the ball to seek retribution. Absolutely no comparison though if the ball was still in play where you attempt to win a corner, throw in etc by playing it off another player.
Lafferty's reaction was understandable after being hit by the ball but upon looking at it again I don't actually see much violent conduct from him. He gets up and pushes two hands into the chest of McBride but again by the letter of the law this could be construed as violent conduct. This makes me believe that Brines was ready to order off Lafferty for serious foul play (i.e the tackle on Miller), even more so in that it's unusual for officials to keep their yellow card in their back pocket and this is where Brines is reaching for when he whistles for the infringement against Miller.
I think on hindsight that the referee could've pulled both players in and cautioned them both, told them to calm down at half time and behave. Referee's in my opinion have a duty to try and keep players on the park rather than trying to send off as many as they can.
However, I would add that he (Brines) was not helped by both assistants tearing on to the park as this made the situation look worse than it was. I could understand the west stand assistant coming on to help, but I cannot imagine that the East stand assistant sprinting across the pitch would have been part of Brines pre-match instructions.
David Weir's part in it should also have been notified to the referee by the West Stand asst referee as he fails to tell him about the way that Weir grabs hold of McBride immediately after the incident, you'll see that Brines is already dealing with Lafferty and had no way of seeing Weir. This demonstrates poor teamwork and indeed shows a lack of courage from the Asst referee to get involved.
Brines also man-handles Lafferty by the shirt. In my opinion, there was no need whatsoever to do this and I'm surprised at the reaction from him as an experienced official.
**Images courtesy of Alan Rennie \ Hibernian FC**
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