The second yellow card is very harsh and when I see the images now, I wouldn't give it that way any more. However, that wasn't enough for the German football association's sports court to overturn the automatic one-game ban for a sending-off.
"It's obvious that diving there with a yellow card was crazy. Then I arrived at the dressing room and it was clear to me that something was happening to me, that I had to ask for help."
Prosecutors said the 2min 11s video found on his laptop showed the boy undress until he was completely naked, before performing sexual acts on himself. Passing sentence on Coote, Judge Shant told the sacked referee: Those who commit this sort of offence must understand that they involve real children being abused, with all the consequent damage that comes from it.
VAR Paul Howard has to take the emotion out of any check, and it didn't take long for him to recommend an on-field review for a possible red card for serious foul play. The replays clearly made Howard feel uncomfortable with a yellow card. His rationale over the comms to referee Bankes described the challenge was made with speed, intensity and contact was high up on the shin, clearly endangering the safety of his opponent.
