The double send-off - a controversial end to PSG versus Green Archers United in the PFF Club Championship semis

With everyone, including this writer, looking at the Ceres versus Kaya match for the fireworks in the semifinals of the 2013 PFF National Club Championship, the PSG versus Green Archers United game has instead taken most of the limelight, and how. The game, won by PSG 2-1 in the penalty shootout, Saturday at the Rizal Memorial Stadium, was a fast-paced match with four goals in seven minutes and the almost unprecedented experience of two players being sent off, during said shootout, amidst a game littered with poor officiating. [Related: Pasargad beat Green Archers on penalties ] PSG finished the game with eight men, with the minimum number of players on the pitch for a team to continue playing in a typical game being seven. Given the fouls on display and the number of yellow cards issued, that rare feat too was indeed a possibility in this game. Controversial penalty shootout The main controversy is that Reza Ataie and Jahambaksh Taher received their second yellow cards for taking their shirts off when celebrating Reza’s save during the shootout. Thinking they’d won the game, 2-1 up in penalties with a penalty each to take, they ran off celebrating, thinking it was over. Once the officials brought them back, and after a couple of the Archers protested to the referees, the duo were each given second yellow cards, sending them off. A single player being sent off during a penalty shootout is so unusual that Botswana goalkeeper Modri Marumo made international headlines in 2003 when he punched Malawi’s keeper Philip Nyasulu in the face during a penalty shootout. Somewhat more clearcut a case then, Botswana, minus their goalkeeper, went on to lose the penalty shootout while PSG won this one without theirs. Indeed this case is likely unprecedented in Philippine football, players being sent off in a penalty shootout for taking off their shirts, and perhaps even wider, there may be no known case of more than one player being sent off in a penalty shootout, and especially not for said offense

Are the FIFA rules ambiguous? The FIFA rulebook at first appears to be clear on this issue: “A player must be cautioned if… he removes his shirt or covers his head with his shirt.” However this is in the section for “Celebrating a Goal,” meaning that it’s only applicable during the celebration of a goal. These goals are also assumed to be in normal, open play, and so whether it applies during a penalty shootout at the end of a game is itself ambiguous. And in this case Reza and Taher were celebrating a save, not a goal, and so by the letter of the law were not taking their shirts off during the single example the FIFA rulebook says that law applies. Certainly if a player takes off his shirt during the game to better receive treatment, for example for a chest, hand or arm injury, he shouldn’t be booked by simple, common sense. However meetings before games and tournaments are the protocol, to discuss and lay out the current interpretation of the law. That can create more ambiguity though, as these interpretations not only change every year, but informally add to the rules of the game inconsistently across tournaments and countries. And it’s also unlikely that the more specific laws of this PFF tournament account for the incredibly rare scenario of players being sent off in a penalty shootout for taking off their shirts. Hopefully a PFF investigation can help clear up the issue. Can the PFF rescind the suspensions? In short, PSG were certainly unlucky to have three players sent off in total. In most tournaments there is an appeals committee to hear the appeals of decisions by teams. Whether or not PSG can submit an appeal to such a body in the PFF to rescind the suspensions, is not immediately known. In fairness, the players should also have realized the game hadn’t finished yet and not prematurely celebrated. The laws on penalty shootouts were at least clear enough for them to know the game hadn’t ended. But the yellow card for taking a shirt off rule isn’t just extremely unpopular and nonsensical, it’s also pretty ambiguous in this instance. Poor officiating - two wrongs don’t make a right Much of this discussion, however, is adding to the volumes of complaint already out there about poor refereeing. PSG striker Emmanuel Mbata was sent off in normal time, yet his second yellow card was unduly given for simulation as the referee signaled Mbata dived, but replays clearly showed he received a push in the back from Dominic Mensah. In most football federations that red card would be rescinded after the game and the suspension with it – in other words he’d be available for the Final. To some degree that injustice evened itself within the game when Chieffy Caligdong was denied a penalty late in the game when clearly brought down in the area. However even with poor officiating, two wrongs don’t make a right as the Green Archers would likely have won the game before the shootout and for PSG there is likely to be consequences afterwards with the suspension of three players for the Final against Ceres. Such bad decisions are the exception in professional leagues, not the norm. And for so many bad decisions to happen in one game needs a second look. UFL clubs have been almost unanimous in their statements that they can never trust the officiating in any single game, never mind over the course of the season too. Green Archers hard done by During the ninety minutes the Green Archers will have felt hard done by. Jovanie Simpron had two great opportunities to give the Archers a third goal and a clear penalty was denied to the Archers when Chieffy Caligdong was brought down in the area. The Archers may well have a case for complaint against the officiating during the penalty shootout too, with PSG goalkeeper Reza Ataei well off his line during every single penalty taken.   However while the rules remain ambiguous and possible appeals for suspensions uncertain, what is for sure is that PSG will now meet Ceres in the Final while Kaya and Green Archers will battle for third. Both games will be at the Rizal Memorial Stadium next weekend at the beginning of February.  - AMD, GMA News