A Slide Tackle In Premier League U23 Match Is Causing Huge Debate Online After Referee Gives Yellow Card
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Stoke City Under-23s secured a 2-1 win against Norwich City in their Premier League Two clash this week, but it was a 'perfectly-timed' slide tackle from youngster Kieran Coates that grabbed the headlines.
The 19-year-old defender received a yellow card in the 31st minute of Monday's game at the Lotus Training Ground when he appeared to win the ball cleanly.
Although the trailing leg was tucked away, Coates did follow through hard on his opponent.
It's an incident that has certainly divided opinion on social media.
Twitter user @ajwc63 posted the original video, alongside a slow-motion version of the tackle.
He believes the "ridiculous" yellow card decision is "what is killing football as a sport", although some disagree with his opinion. What do you think?
This is what is killing football as a sport.
A young lad, Kieran Coates, playing an U23 match produces an excellent tackle with perfect timing and trailing leg tucked away, but he gets a yellow...ridiculous #SCFC pic.twitter.com/qPJgZOHlVr
- THE Alastair Campbell (@ajwc63) February 15, 2021
Here is the slow-motion footage of Coates' challenge.
Frame by frame....exceptional @CoatesKieran :clap::clap:#SCFC pic.twitter.com/Hzk3PXUExv
- THE Alastair Campbell (@ajwc63) February 16, 2021
After the full-time whistle, Coates took to Twitter to express his opinion on the slide tackle, which has picked up over 320,000 views and 2,000 retweets at the time of writing. He said: "Shocking from the ref."
Although plenty of people agreed with the 19-year-old defender, some thought it was worthy of a card.
Here is just a selection of reaction from Coates' controversial challenge.
Got the ball but no need to follow through like that in a U23s game, be real. This is Stoke U23s vs Norwich U23s, not Arsenal v Spurs. Wheres the guy even going? Needless. Its not a sake of football becoming a "soft sport", its a case of consideration for somebody's future/career
- Villan's Opinions (@VillansOpinions) February 16, 2021
Sending off all day long, could have broken his leg, no need 4 that in 2days game
- Michael Baggaley (@MichaelBaggale1) February 16, 2021
So what you're basically saying anyone running at speed towards a defender can't be tackled by the defender running towards him as it could be classed as dangerous? Absolutely ridiculous. The reaction from the team mates of the tackled player are the problem.
- Ash (@AshleyCox1971) February 16, 2021
I disagree. Whilst it was a clean tackle, he was going way too fast. You mistime that by a second and you are breaking a lads leg. My boy plays football and I would be fucking raging if this was done to him.
- Mickey Gif :earth_africa: (@clayblack75) February 16, 2021
Some of the comments on this are from people who clearly have never played football. Fucking excellent tackle, timed it well and the fact the lad got up straight away shows it shouldn't have been a booking. The rule makers have ruined what once was a great game.
- Rich Hickerman (@Delhicko) February 16, 2021
Stopped watching for this very reason. Players, are, in effect, no longer allowed to tackle properly. We are officially sleepwalking into a non contact sport. Won't be long.
- Ian Chesnick:golfer:️♂️:golf: #17 (@Topgolfertiger) February 16, 2021
Thoughts on the tackle? Was it a yellow card or a perfectly-timed challenge?
Let us know in the comments. This one could cause huge debate.
Topics: Football News, Football, Premier League, norwich city, Stoke City
