Just for a change, confusion reigns on whether Diogo can play against Muang Thong following his red card against Thai Port after a second yellow card.
A VERY reliable source has informed us that Diogo CAN and WILL play against Buriram’s bitter rivals. Apparently, Diogo has received 3 yellow cards so far this season and will only be banned for one game when he accumulates four.
Naturally, this is very good news for Buriram fans but if this is the case, the Thai FA have once again laid themselves open to ridicule. The information we have is that a straight red card means a ONE game ban but two yellows in one game is not punished unless it takes the player to the four yellows mark.
Player discipline is poor in this country and this will only make it worse. Despite extensive research, we can not find ANYWHERE else in the world where this system is adopted.
Let’s take the English Premiership as an example. Two yellow cards in one game is an automatic one game ban. When a player accumulates five yellow cards in one season, it also means a one game ban. If a player reaches ten yellows in a season, it is a two game ban. However, yellow cards are expunged each season on December 31 and the totting up process begins again.
The punishment for a straight red depends on the “crime”. Denying a goalscoring opportunity through either handling the ball or fouling an opponent results in a one game ban. A red card for dissent or arguing or verbally abusing an official is a two game ban. A straight red for violent conduct or dangerous play is an automatic three game ban. Spitting at an opponent carries a six game ban.
This is a fair process and should be a deterrent for persistent offenders. However, the Thai system appears far too lenient which actually falls in line with the ridiculously low fines imposed for law and order offences.
It remains to be seen what the actual rules are here as it is always so difficult to get many things officially clarified.