Defender Dark Arts 101
Let Your Opponent Know Early That You Are There ... to Irritate and to Hurt
The semifinal match between Spain and France at the European Championships was entertaining and enjoyable, both from a football lover’s perspective and a referee’s perspective.
In huge or significant matches—such as tournament knockout games, derbies, finals—you can assume that tough challenges will occur. That didn’t happen in this semifinal match. Generally speaking, both sides played football and didn’t descend into kicking each other and running down the clock.
Defender’s Dark Art
However, Spain centre back Nacho (#4) did execute the dark art of Calculated Intimidation (DD5, Football Dark Arts) on France forward Kolo Muani in the 8’. Here’s what happened.
Initially, there was a simple trip by Nacho (red #4) on Muani (white #12) and then Nacho decided to fall on his opponent.
The manner how Nacho falls on his opponent is important. Instead of trying to avoid harm to his opponent, Nacho chose to land his left arm on Muani’s head. Falling from quite a distance, the force on Muani’s head is excessive and could easily have been avoided. But Nacho chose not to avoid Muani’s head.
VAR did not intervene since this was not deemed a “missed red card” offence. Also, to consider issuing a red card in the 8’ of a semifinal match, the referee and VAR need to be 100% certain that it is a send-off offence. In this case, referee Slavko Vinčić chose to ignore the “afters” and therefore avoid any controversy.
Referees often use duty of care to determine whether a foul, or its severity, could have been avoided. A good way to think about this is to think of two good friends (or two brothers) being on opposing sides. Knowing that each player should have some “duty of care” towards their opponent, could the player have taken steps to fall differently? The answer is yes. In this instance, there is a long distance to fall, so Nacho could have easily placed his left hand to the side or ahead of Muani’s head, or even choose to use his right hand (rather than his left hand) to stop his fall. Nacho did neither.
This is a dark art because it fits the definition of being: a negative action, either physical or psychological, that intentionally disadvantages opponents. Nacho wanted Muani to know early on in the match that he was there and would be always “snapping at his heels”.
Alan Shearer, BBC pundit, said: “No doubt that was deliberate”.
Reaction One to this Dark Art
The wonderful thing about this is what happened next. From the direct free kick that Nacho conceded, France attacked and Muani was the player who headed in the goal. That is the best response to a dark art … to get up, play football and score a goal.
Following France’s opening goal, both teams decided to play football, which led to an entertaining and enjoyable remainder of the first half, and generally the whole match.
Referee Slavko Vinčić from Slovenia managed the match well. Incidentally, Vinčić is a surprise contender now for the Final on Sunday 14 July … perhaps due to “political influence”. UEFA President Aleksander Čeferin is from Slovenia and there are musings that he has influenced the referee appointments at the European Championships based on his “preferred referees” rather than based on referees’ performances. This semifinal was officiated very well by Vinčić but it can be argued that the Slovenian’s previous two matches at Euro24 were not as good as others to actually get him appointed to a semifinal match.
Reaction Two to this Dark Art
After scoring France’s opening goal, Muani and this teammates became frustrated as Spain scored two goals to take the lead. This frustration manifested itself in the final two minutes of the half, where three fouls by France occurred in quick succession as Spain kept possession.
The last foul of the first half was Muani tripping Nacho.
Fortunately for Nacho, Muani did not follow through on his trip with any deliberate stamp, kick or fall onto this opponent. Do you agree with Muani’s “no dark arts” treatment toward Nacho?
References
Spain 2-1 France (BBC Sport)
Watch Spain defender Nacho SHOVE Randal Kolo Muani's head into the ground (Daily Mail Sport)
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