The eighth round of the Chinese Super League has ended and it was a very popular round with three players and three coaches receiving red cards. With only eight rounds of the season having 12 players receiving red cards, I'm afraid that the Football Association will need to look at ways to reduce the number of red cards along with the extra penalties.
The most popular action of the round is Jadason "boxing" Belichick, in the final moments of the match between Shandong Taishan and Tianjin Jinmen Tigers, Jadason was pulled by Belichick's jersey and even his legs, punching Belichick and sending his opponent directly to the hospital, Jadason ran back to the dressing room or the referee called back to the pitch, plus the red card.
In addition to Jadson's red card, Taishan assistant coach Fabio also received a red card for preventing the referee from enforcing the law. Jadson's behavior will undoubtedly receive additional punishment from the FA. Some media sources have predicted that Jadson's ban could take up to five matches to start, meaning he could set a record for bans in a new season.
In tonight's other match between Shanghai Port and Meizhou Hakka, in the 52nd minute of the match, Shanghai manager Javier was also given a red card for his dissatisfaction with the referee's decision. Javier was still very upset after receiving the red and continued to rant at the referee. Although Shanghai easily won the game 2-0 at the end, Javier was criticized for his temper.
In an earlier day's match, Zhejiang player Liang Nuoheng received his second yellow card and was red-carded in the 91st minute against Qingdao Hainiu. In Shenzhen's other match against Nantong Zhiyun, Shenzhen player Xu Haofeng was sent off in the 81st minute, and goalkeeping coach Guan Zhen was sent off in the 94th minute for dissatisfaction with the referee's decision.
A total of four of the eight matches in this round saw red cards, three players and three coaches six were red carded, a record for the most red cards in a single round in the new season.
It is worth noting that 12 players have been red-carded in only 8 rounds this season, including Tianjin Jinmen Tiger Yang Fan and Henan Shunyiqi, 2 players who have been additionally penalized, and Taishan Jadzon will be the third player in the new season who may also refresh his ban again.
The constant stream of red cards proves that the FA's extra penalties are not much of a deterrent. The FA needs to reduce the number of red cards on the pitch in other ways, and the most effective way to do this is to improve the referee's level of enforcement.
In tonight's red cards, the red cards for Jadson and Javier might not have happened if Belichick had intervened in time for Jadson's jersey, and if the referee had penalized Caron in time for his second consecutive foul. If the standard of refereeing doesn't improve anytime soon, perhaps the Football Association might consider inviting some foreign referees.
