Analysis of Messi and Medel Red Cards

Here's a situation between Argentina and Chile where the ball went out of play and then Messi

and Medel had a situation between each other so the referee decided to give red cards to both

players and this led to a big discussion and neither of the teams were happy about the decision

so if we first look at what Messi did here just as the ball went out of play he made a small push

on Medel and light contact on the foot so if you isolate that situation that is a warning

it is not a straight red card defense but depending on the atmosphere of a match and

how the match has been you could argue for unsporting behavior and give a yellow card

but that is absolutely not a violent contact defense and a red card is 100 incorrect for that

specific situation so Medel responded by chest bumping Messi four times so that is unsporting

behavior and since he did that four times it can be seen as separate offenses meaning two

yellow cards here for separate offenses made within close proximity and after the last one he headbutted

Messi on the face so that is deliberately striking an opponent with a headbutt with more than

negligible force so that is violent conduct so in that case it is a correct red card for Medel

but the red card for Messi is factually 100 incorrect in this situation so Messi should at

receive a yellow card here but that is not required and the red card for Medel is correct

by the law for a headbutt and had a headbutt not occurred you could give two yellow cards for

Medel here for separate offenses it is not a red card for Messi in this situation