[Albion] You're the ref: Veltman v Rice

[Hugo Rune]

What Rice did was a yellow card offence. He dived and rolled around like a big old baby to try and get Velts sent off. But you can’t dabble with the dark arts if you are not a master.

Veltman is a master. The incident made me laugh very hard for a good period of time. I loved it and so did all the northerners in the pub I was watching the match in.

That said, if I were a ref, I’d not have followed the letter of the law. I’d have gone up to Rice, laughing, and told him that he got what he deserved and the next time he kicks the ball away, he’ll get a yellow.

 

[Bozza]

But who was he kicking the ball to? I really don't think Veltman was actually taking the free-kick and passing it to a teammate. He knew exactly what he was doing.

I think you're right.

Veltman's intent was almost certainly to blast the ball against Rice to then claim "he didn't get out of the way", and get Rice a card that way.

The reason I say "almost certainly" and not "certainly" is having just seen a few more replays and focused solely on Veltman, he very clearly looks down the line and then goes to play the ball. Of course, as an absolute master of the dark arts, maybe it was all part of his elaborate setting up of Rice.

 

[Sarisbury Seagull]

Yes it was great shit-housery from Velts but the ref made the correct decision.

 

[zeemeeuw]

I'm not sure about the yellow card but that is world class schijthuisery from our Joel.

 

[Guinness Boy]

Ref got it spot on. Clever housery from JV.

 

[CheeseRolls]

Looking at it again, the ball was still moving when Veltman went to 'take' the free-kick. Makes it even funnier!

Serious question have you ever seen Veltman try to take a free kick when the ball is not moving?
Does he have some strange phobia?

No one forced Rice to do the snidy little flick away. Plenty of players have got away with less, but you take your chances especially when you are already on a yellow.

 

[Coach_Carter_92]

But who was he kicking the ball to? I really don't think Veltman was actually taking the free-kick and passing it to a teammate. He knew exactly what he was doing.

That makes it even funnier, if Veltman does just twat the ball downfield to no-one Arsenal would regain possession and can build again. Twice as thick from Rice

 

[jcdenton08]

I’ve gone for no card for either player, it was a silliness. Ref should’ve told them to stop being naughty and got on with the game.

THAT SAID, Veltman really makes me laugh and I think I’m in love with him

 

[BRIGHT ON Q]

Absolutely bloody love Veltman.up there with Pascal as our best premier era signings.

 

[Bold Seagull]

And fuming at the stupidity of the player.

Yep, strangely in all the analysis no one has said how stupid Rice was.

Crouch saying gamesmanship from Veltman, consistency from the ref, how about just saying if Rice doesn’t do anything nothing happens other than Veltman probably kicks the bat straight to Arsenal. It was stupid.

 

[Mustafa II]

Looking at the opinions of neutrals on social media, most of them think that it should not have been a red for Rice.

Perhaps those of us that think it was a 'definite red' have our blue & white tinted specs too firmly on.

If I was the ref and not an Albion fan? Honestly, I probably would have not carded either player and got on with the match. I think the fans would forget about it pretty quickly... especially as in some peoples eyes Veltman kicked out at Rice, which probably has some truth to it...

It's a complicated scenario that would probably need some kind of expert to break it down for the ACTUAL correct decision, but I think with refereeing, sometimes common sense can go a long away.

 

[Bozza]

Looking at the opinions of neutrals on social media, most of them think that it should not have been a red for Rice.

Perhaps those of us that think it was a 'definite red' have our blue & white tinted specs too firmly on.

If I was the ref and not an Albion fan? Honestly, I probably would have not carded either player and got on with the match. I think the fans would forget about it pretty quickly... especially as in some peoples eyes Veltman kicked out at Rice, which probably has some truth to it...

It's a complicated scenario that would probably need some kind of expert to break it down for the ACTUAL correct decision, but I think with refereeing, sometimes common sense can go a long away.

It wasn't a red for Rice, definite or otherwise.

It was a yellow. A second yellow as it turned out.

There have been very clear instructions given on delaying restarts/kicking the ball away. If you're already on a yellow and you kick the ball away you give the referee a decision to make. You're gambling. He lost.

 

[Bozza]

Yep, strangely in all the analysis no one has said how stupid Rice was.

Crouch saying gamesmanship from Veltman, consistency from the ref, how about just saying if Rice doesn’t do anything nothing happens other than Veltman probably kicks the bat straight to Arsenal. It was stupid.

Exactly.

And when Peter Crouch switches mode to podcast host, he absolutely celebrates 'housery of this magnificence.

 

[Paulie Gualtieri]

Laws of the game but Veltman has done him there massively, who was he “passing” to.

This is Maupay levels of shithousery and I’m here for it, the king is dead, long live the king

 

[martin tyler]

Veltman was just smarter.
I’d be annoyed if I was an Arsenal fan by the lack of consistency- Pedro got away with a yellow first half.
In this incident Veltman looks like he’s going to play the ball up the line suckers Rice in and he’s daft enough to nick the ball away. Veltman was never playing a pass long Minth was 15 yards away.

 

[jcdenton08]

What I love about Veltman is the image of angelic innocence and naivety he projects, meanwhile being one of the shithousiest players in the league. Tugging the shirt on the blind side, “accidentally” standing on toes.

Spend a half watching him, it’s constant and he never stops.

Then he’ll turn around and shake the player’s hand

 

[sussex_guy2k2]

The issue is the lack of consistency. We’d have been furious if it was given the other way.

Do I think Veltman did anything wrong? No, not in the slightest.

Did Rice do something that deserved a yellow? Barely. If that’s a yellow, we may as well all pack up our bags now.

 

[Han Solo]

Wouldn't card any of them - but that would techically be the wrong call.

 

[AZ Gull]

It was the first time Rice has been sent off in his senior career, apparently.

 

[Simster]

Anyway, we need luck like this if we're going to win the title.