VINCENT KOMPANY BELIEVES that his recent red card woe is a direct consequence of English football’s changing culture and warned that “an unprecedented wave” of strict decisions could destroy the game.

In an unusual move, the Manchester City captain posted an open letter on Facebook this afternoon to relay his version of the events which saw him sent off after just 12 minutes of City’s 3-2 loss to Manchester United in the FA Cup third round on Sunday.

Kompany will serve the first game of a four-match ban in tonight’s Carling Cup semi-final first leg against Liverpool after the FA dismissed his appeal at a hearing yesterday.

Reflection

In his letter, titled “A Moment of Reflection”, Kompany said that he “completely disagreed” with Chris Foy’s decision to issue a straight red card for his tackle on Nani, even though he failed to keep either foot on the ground and therefore fell foul of the FA rules which prohibit challenges that endanger the safety of an opponent.

The decision to send him off was completely at odds with the traditions of English football which has gained massive popularity around the world for its “hardness” and “fairness”, Kompany explained.

“That is why hundreds of millions of people tune in to watch Premier League football and English referees have always been a key factor to that success in my opinion.

“So I don’t agree with people saying that referees in this country aren’t doing well as I think they are the best in the world. Hopefully common sense will prevail again in the future and I for one hope not to see consistency in sending offs and suspensions when the intent of a player is to win the ball.

“If football fans decide I’m wrong in raising these concerns,” he added, “then I will have no problem in accepting the fact that times are changing again for our game.”

Full text of Kompany’s letter:

Dear all,

I appealed because I obviously completely disagreed with the interpretation of the officials on the day but that happens in football and we move on.

I wonder though if we are now going to see an unprecedented wave of red cards on match days because we sanction “if’s” and “maybe’s”? Are we going to look back at video evidence for every single challenge that goes unnoticed by the officials, look at different scenarios and potential outcomes of what could have been considered a good tackle and then sanction it? Players and managers are starting to expect more sending offs from referees and I think it’s for the wrong reasons.

My understanding is that English football prides itself on the hardness, the fairness and the tradition of its game. That is why hundreds of millions of people tune in to watch Premier League football and English referees have always been a key factor to that success in my opinion. So I don’t agree with people saying that referees in this country aren’t doing well as I think they are the best in the world. Hopefully common sense will prevail again in the future and I for one hope not to see consistency in sending offs and suspensions when the intent of a player is to win the ball.

I’d like to add to this that I waited for the suspension to be confirmed before making any comments on the matter as I didn’t want to give the impression that I was using the media as a tool to benefit my own personal agenda in this case. I’m not speaking on behalf of the club or anybody else, this isn’t me defending myself, this is just me raising a genuine concern.

If football fans decide I’m wrong in raising these concerns then I will have no problem in accepting the fact that times are changing again for our game.

Vincent Kompany

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