'Clear red' for Bosnia or 'wins the ball'? BBC pundits disagree
And there was a lively debate in the BBC studio following Canada's 1-1 draw with Bosnia-Herzegovina, a result that ensured the co-hosts avoided defeat for the first time in seven World Cup matches. But should Canada's task have been made easier by Bosnia being reduced to 10 men
And there was a lively debate in the BBC studio following Canada's 1-1 draw with Bosnia-Herzegovina, a result that ensured the co-hosts avoided defeat for the first time in seven World Cup matches.
But should Canada's task have been made easier by Bosnia being reduced to 10 men in the second half?
One of the talking points came four minutes into the second half, with Bosnia 1-0 ahead.
A long ball was played forward and Bosnia goalkeeper Nikola Vasilj leapt and punched the ball, but then on the follow-through his fists clattered into the head of Canada striker Tani Oluwaseyi.
Former England captain Wayne Rooney felt Vasilj should have been sent off, while ex-Premier League assistant referee Darren Cann said Argentine referee Facundo Tello made the right decision to take no action - no penalty, no red card.
An offside was given, so there would not have been a penalty given anyway, although Vasilj could still have been dismissed.
Cann, who was an assistant referee in the 2014 World Cup final, said: "First of all, offside was given, but even without the offside in my opinion it is not a penalty. It is not a red card.
"The goalkeeper clearly plays the ball first and there's inevitable contact after that, so it is not serious foul play. The keeper clearly wins the ball and that for me is clearly not a red card."
