World 
Referees 
Del Horno Deserved to See Red
Football fanatics have been eagerly anticipating today’s UEFA Champions League matchup between the top teams from England and Spain – Chelsea and Barcelona. And now that it’s over and the Catalan giants have gone on to a memorable 2 – 1 first-leg victory at Stamford Bridge, the critics and partisan Blues supporters will be quick to question the first half sending off of Chelsea’s Spanish defender Asier Del Horno.
And while I might not have necessarily issued a red card if I had been the man in the middle, the Norwegian official had every right to do so.
For those of you who weren’t fortunate enough to watch the match, I’ll replay the scenario fo you. It was the 37th minute when Barca’s 18-year old Argentine phenom Lionel Messi was racing down the touchline in a pitched battle for the ball with Chelsea’s Arjen Robben (I believe). Down in the corner Messi deftly stole the ball from the Dutchman’s feet then dashed around his opponent only to be met by the out-of-control Del Horno who had already sped past the ball by several feet before sending Messi to the ground with great force.
Now, maybe the extremely rash challenge in and of itself was only worthy of a firm yellow, but add on top of that that Messi was poised to dash along the endline with the ball before Del Horno arrived on the scene. During the minute or two while Messi and Del Horno were on the ground receiving treatment for their wounds, the referee had plenty of time to decide that this wasn’t simply unsporting behavior, but far worse, serious foul play.
And how can anyone argue that? Sure, ESPN’s resident idiot Tommy Smyth was incredulous, thinking that perhaps both players would receive a caution (why Messi would’ve deserved one is beyond me), but there was no mistaking Del Horno’s intentions and the referee took the appropriate action.
I’m sure Chelsea’s arrogant coach Jose Mourinho will raise holy hell in the media, but rather than vilify the officials (who, incidentally allowed Chelsea defender John Terry to steamroll Messi inside the penalty box late in the match), he should be most outraged at the lack of focus and discipline by one of his own men.
And that’s my view from the middle.
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Comments
By Champions League Whetting the World Cup Appetite - FIFA World Cup 2006 - World Cup 2006 | February 22nd, 2006 at 5:20 pm 
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Posted from 
United States
By Kris | February 22nd, 2006 at 6:35 pm wow that was put perfectly. I wrote about it on the Argentina blog as well because I couldnt believe what I heard from the announcer which I now know is Tommy Smyth who sounded absolutely ridiculous and lost all my respect. It was a clear red card. How can you run passed the ball to hit somebody and not deserve a red? Messi is such a smart kid he saw it coming from a mile away and prepared for it because if he didnt Del Horno the idiot could of done some serious damage.
Posted from United States
By Euler | February 22nd, 2006 at 10:31 pm If Messi didn’t jump he would be crippled by now.
Messi really is an amazing player. It was a pleasure to see him play against Chelsea. Very agile and fast.
By shawn | February 23rd, 2006 at 12:54 am Wow: What color is the air where you fellows live?
I’m a Chelsea fan, so you know, and I thought it was a harsh hit. But I also thought the straight red was absurd.
Del Horno kicked at the ball. He missed it, and then he collided with Messi. It was ugly and he deserved punishment. But the straight red was absurd. Messi acted like a typical continental/euro = thrashing about like he’d been shot with a high-power rifle and then running like a gazelle for 60 more minutes. There should be yellows for BS acting, but I stray from my point.
Del Horno = wrong.
Ref = wrong.
2 Wrongs X=X right.
Sorry, but I flat out disagree with you.
(Messi is a hell of a player, though….)
Posted from United States
By Kris | February 23rd, 2006 at 1:43 am Finally me and Euler see eye to eye on something haha..
Posted from United States
By Euler | February 23rd, 2006 at 5:21 am That’s great football. Messi must play in Germany! He will bring a beautiful style to the Argentinean team.
By Nicke | February 23rd, 2006 at 9:49 am Players has been sent of in bigger games for less then DH. DH had a reckless challenge minutes before and could have collected 2 yellow instead. Chelsea appears to be the Club teams equivalent to Italy, complaining about conspiracy when ever they lose.
Posted from 
Sweden
By Hector Padilla | June 25th, 2006 at 7:05 pm On Massimo Busacca’s red card on
del Horno being correct but what about being consisten on the Argentina-Mexico game and giving only a yellow card on the argentinian defender foul on the last man going for the goal? It wasnt even controvertial. Now about the record. M. Busacca has been the referee on 19 FIFA games and by chance Argentina was on 5 of them, more than 25% of the time, What is the probability of that occurring? Plain facts.
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