Two seasons ago it was diving; before that it was the tackle from behind. The current flavour of the month is the two-footed tackle. The media has a new bête noir upon which to hang their coat-tails. That is not to defend the perpetrators of such an offence; it is indefensible. However, the over-reaction from the back pages does little or nothing to solve the issue. A player is going to make such a challenge irrespective of the populist opinion of a red top.

There is one fundamental flaw in the current outcry, namely the manner of communicating changes to the laws of the game to the players. Managers are told at a pre-season meeting the areas that the officials will be focussing over the coming months yet they are obviously not telling the players for there seems to be barely a game go by when the crime is perpetrated. The lines of communication are not filtering down to the players. Managers simply cannot be telling the players what is and is not acceptable. It is inconceivable that they have done so and that such a high percentage of their workforce is ignoring these edicts.

In the intensity of the action, such rushes of blood will occur but they are too widespread for it to be simply a case of a player losing their senses. The culprit has to accept the consequences of their actions yet clubs routinely appeal against dismissals which contribute to the situation.

Interpretations of events immediately post match are often widely divergent with the televisual proof offered. Interviews for the media habitually include berating the officials for a poor decision in this respect, ‘the player had one foot on the ground when the tackle was made’ a routine response. In this climate, it is little wonder that players continue to transgress.

Managers have to accept responsibility for their charges actions. It is happening more frequently, Steve Coppell admitting for example that Gunnarsson deserved to be dismissed but in the same breath he complained that he was unaware of the new rulings. Perhaps he has been in the restroom at the past two pre-season meetings when the issue was discussed. Coppell is not the only one to express such surprise but why are we then dismayed when this type of tackle continues? It is fairly obvious that managers are not communicating downwards and whilst ire should be directed at the perpetrator, perhaps those in charge deserve berating as well for failing to do their jobs properly.

With the automatic three match ban that follows red cards for such offences, it is right that managerial ability is questioned. After all, where is the benefit in losing a player for that spell? Time for those in charge to stand up and take responsibility as well.

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