MOSCOW - Colombia’s 2018 World Cup got off to just about the worst possible start on Tuesday in a 2-1 loss to Japan.
The Colombians, widely considered Group H favorites, were a goal down and a man down after just five minutes in their opener. Midfielder Carlos Sanchez was shown the second-quickest red card in World Cup history for what referee Damir Skomina ruled a deliberate handball on a goalbound shot in the penalty area.
here was some confusion about why the incident justified a red card. FIFA and soccer’s global legislative body have moved to avoid “double jeopardy” situations – penalizing a single foul with both a red card and a likely goal against. A recent rule change exempts players who make attempts to legally play the ball.
But a deliberate handball doesn’t qualify, and therefore can warrant both a penalty and a red card. The laws of the game specify that “denying the opposing team a goal or an obvious goal-scoring opportunity by deliberately handling the ball” is a red card offense.
So Sanchez’s right arm movement sent Japan to the spot. Shinji Kagawa stepped up, sent David Ospina the wrong way, and slotted home the penalty. Colombia was in a hole. (Agencies)