Was Lindelofs foul for Tuanzebe’s goal the correct decision?

[Annihilate Now!]

It would've been fine if the other guy challenged for it tbh. But he didn't. He just stood looking at the corner taker so it was a foul from lindelof.
If I'm lindelof I expect some sort of challenge in the box on a corner so I would at least jump for that

Yes a foul but the stupidity is on the sociedad player imo. Lack of awareness could have got himself killed

Why was he stupid? He knew he was never reaching that ball so why bother jumping and unbalancing himself when he can spin around and try win a second ball?

If we acknowledge Lindelöfs right to challenge for the header, we should also acknowledge the Sociedads defenders right to not challenge for a ball he's never reaching.

 

[T00lsh3d]

Any UFC fans in here? Getting Masvidal v Askren flashbacks from that.

I watched that earlier today (again). So so mental

 

[Ole'sattheWheel]

There was a sociedad chance a few minutes later actually in our box. Lindelof and one of their attackers challenged for a cross aggressively and Victor headed it out for a corner.

If he'd have just stood there and looked at the guy crossing it til the ball went over his head, then decided to turn round he'd have been absolutely clattered in the face by the opposition attackers hip-knee-thigh area aswell. Which would have been stupid by him.
Track the runners and don't ball watch

 

[Sandikan]

Exactly. Nani was hard done by, he controlled the ball the opponent stooped a bit to try and head the ball and there was a bit of contact. This was much more dangerous and he didnt get the ball

It was certainly one of those real shock red cards.

It was upsetting seeing Fergie going mad over it. We soon found out why, that he it was his last chance to win the cup, standing down at the end of the season.

 

[Redlyn]

Yeah it's a foul as he clattered into him. Unlucky for Tuanzebe, the ball would have reached him in any case.

 

[ivaldo]

It's baffling people think it isn't a foul. Yes, it's a little unfortunate; if the defender hadn't been lost in his own thoughts then he would've jumped and not much would've been made of it. But as it happens, he didn't and instead he Sagated in the face.

 

[Withnail]

That's where the ball was when Lindelof was descending onto the defender's head. The only way he was playing that ball is if he bounced off the defender Super Mario style.

 

[diarm]

That's where the ball was when Lindelof was descending onto the defender's head. The only way he was playing that ball is if he bounced off the defender Super Mario style.

That was well before it reached him. My screenshot shows the height of the ball just after it's past Lindelof and well after the collision with the defender.

 

[edgecutter]

Can't believe we are debating this

 

[Nick7]

It's baffling people think it isn't a foul. Yes, it's a little unfortunate; if the defender hadn't been lost in his own thoughts then he would've jumped and not much would've been made of it. But as it happens, he didn't and instead he Sagated in the face.

Why would the defender jump for it? It was miles above his head. He wasn’t lost in his thoughts, he was following the trajectory of the ball.

 

[Ekeke]

Imagine a forum where there are some posters arguing that heading should be banned because of how dangerous concussions are, while other posters think a jumping knee to the face isn't even a foul

 

[Dj Law]

He´s just making an honest effort to reach the ball. The defender is passive. No foul in my book.

 

[Ole'sattheWheel]

Why was he stupid? He knew he was never reaching that ball so why bother jumping and unbalancing himself when he can spin around and try win a second ball?

If we acknowledge Lindelöfs right to challenge for the header, we should also acknowledge the Sociedads defenders right to not challenge for a ball he's never reaching.

People challenge for balls they aren't gonna get all the time on corners for this exact reason.
This particular one looked bad and like I said it was a foul from lindelof, especially fecking his knees like that.

But you've gotta track the runners on corners or you'll get flattened

 

[ivaldo]

Why would the defender jump for it? It was miles above his head. He wasn’t lost in his thoughts, he was following the trajectory of the ball.

He wasn't even watching the ball.

 

[Brophs]

People challenge for balls they aren't gonna get all the time on corners for this exact reason.
This particular one looked bad and like I said it was a foul from lindelof, especially fecking his knees like that.

But you've gotta track the runners on corners or you'll get flattened

Not usually WWF style, though.

 

[Nick7]

He wasn't even watching the ball.

Yes he was. That’s why he turns in time with the ball.

 

[ivaldo]

Why would the defender jump for it? It was miles above his head. He wasn’t lost in his thoughts, he was following the trajectory of the ball.

The sharp turn of his head indicates he most definitely wasn't following the trajectory of the ball.

 

[Sultan]

I think the giant leap comes from Lindelof having read or heard he's not aggressive enough as a defender. Luckily, the defender did not suffer injury. This is not to say it was anything but an accident.

 

[JJ12]

@JJ12 for devils advocate as well.

Yeah I didn’t say that

 

[ivaldo]

Yes he was. That’s why he turns in time with the ball.

Unless the ball suddenly accelerated towards the end of the box, no he fecking wasn't

 

[sullydnl]

That was well before it reached him. My screenshot shows the height of the ball just after it's past Lindelof and well after the collision with the defender.

Well yes, if we ignore the flying knee to the defender's head before the ball arrived, imagine that Lindelof was jumping where the ball was when it was past him and imagine he had jumped higher than he actually did then he might have got to it.

 

[Annihilate Now!]

People challenge for balls they aren't gonna get all the time on corners for this exact reason.
This particular one looked bad and like I said it was a foul from lindelof, especially fecking his knees like that.

But you've gotta track the runners on corners or you'll get flattened

But he doesn't have a runner to track, he's making the front zone and he quite rightly assess he's not going to reach it. Some players would jump and miss it and then not be able to contribute if the ball falls behind them... He's doing the opposite.

The incident is weird because Lindelöf has a free run at the ball (which basically never happens) and so can jump like that... If he was being marked and tracked then he'd have someone to put off his run /hinder it in some way which would have lessened his jump.

 

[El Zoido]

It’s a foul but it wasn’t as bad as people are making out. He’s jumped for a header, of course the player rooted to the spot making no effort for it is going to get cleaned out. It’s not much different to Harry Kane backing in to defenders while they jump for the ball and topple over him. I say Lindelof one is a foul because he’s nowhere near the ball.

 

[arthurka]

Well foul clear. Lindelöf bad in the air not to at all he looked like Jordan and Jackie Chan all rolled into one.

 

[Nick7]

Unless the ball suddenly accelerated towards the end of the box, no he fecking wasn't

Go watch it again.

 

[ivaldo]

Go watch it again.

Just did. Your turn.

 

[hubbuh]

Why is this funny? It was very dangerous, could have ended the life of the other player there. Definite red card.

Don't be a fanny. The guy was fine. It was mega.

 

[The Original]

People challenge for balls they aren't gonna get all the time on corners for this exact reason.
This particular one looked bad and like I said it was a foul from lindelof, especially fecking his knees like that.

But you've gotta track the runners on corners or you'll get flattened

What, to avoid people clattering into you for no reason?

Just look at that screenshot. How many players do you see airborne? Why are they not avoiding the supposedly inevitable clattering?

 

[Nick7]

Just did. Your turn.

Yep he’s watching the ball the whole time until he turns as the ball is going past him. Then Lindelof’s knee hits him.

 

[ivaldo]

Yep he’s watching the ball the whole time until he turns as the ball is going past him. Then Lindelof’s knee hits him.

Ok.

 

[JJ12]

Yes he was. That’s why he turns in time with the ball.

He turns well before the ball is passed him

 

[Annihilate Now!]

The ball went less than a yard over his head after the collision.

Forgive the bad screenshot because I'm on my phone but there wasn't a huge amount in it.

Spoiler

It's well over his head

 

[The Original]

He turns well before the ball is passed him

He turns at the exact moment Lindelof hits him. That's probably because he sees him peripherally

 

[Annihilate Now!]

He turns well before the ball is passed him

He doesn't as Lindelöf knees him literally as the ball is going over their heads. (see above picture)

 

[Nick7]

He turns well before the ball is passed him

No he doesn’t. Watch the full video in the match thread.

 

[JJ12]

He doesn't as Lindelöf knees him literally as the ball is going over their heads. (see above picture)

And his face is facing us?

 

[Regulus Arcturus Black]

The ball went less than a yard over his head after the collision.

Forgive the bad screenshot because I'm on my phone but there wasn't a huge amount in it.

Spoiler

I mean, he’s not close to getting something on it is he?

 

[Annihilate Now!]

And his face is facing us?

Yeah (well facing Lindelöfs knee! )

Ultimately its impossible to know what he was looking at as we're not him... But I'd give him the benefit of the doubt he was following the ball.

 

[JJ12]

No he doesn’t. Watch the full video in the match thread.

Lindelof penalised because some shit defender is away with the fairies. If that was Madrid they’d be given 3 goals.

 

[Regulus Arcturus Black]

Next up, was Massing’s challenge really a foul on Canigga.