Israel u21 0 - 1 Belgium u21
Euro 2007 u21 group stage · 2007-06-13 Referee: Craig Thomson

not able to cope with a different kind of play

why

In the tenth minute Thomson decided it was time for a mark. He booked the Belgian player Fellanini for a foul already made a couple of times by other players. Instead of bringing control this booking made the game more restless. A lot of players wanting to make a mark as well. A nice base for a refereeing disaster. More shouting and more useless jumping occured. More fouls were made and although most of these fouls were correctly noticed most of the bookings were for Belgians. All in all it slowed the game down favoring the Israelis. In the twenty first minute Thomson saw a second foul by Fellanini. I don't think it was a foul, but it occurred right in front of Thomson. Thomson didn't think twice and decided to give Fellaini his second booking. A wrong decision. If it was a foul, it was not worth a booking and certainly not a red card. It spoilt the game. Thomson tried to repair it a couple of times by trying to favour the Belgians. They didn't allow it, they were mad and acting like little red devils, frustrated youngsters not able to cope with a setback.

devils

It was a terrible match to watch. You almost start believing in little devils, because the Belgians scored just before closing time.

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