So, no way back for Vieira, a 5 game suspension or bust. Seems to me however, that Poll's comments, and those of most pundits and journalists for that matter, miss the point about Vieira's 2nd yellow card. The implication that it was a reckless tackle is completely misleading because it wasn't a tackle or challenge at all. Hamman was at least a yard away from both Vieira and the ball when Vieira made contact with it, and the only reason there was any contact at all between Hamman and Vieira was because the former deliberately put his studs into the latter as he slid past, the ball long since gone. Not only that, most comments have also deemed it a "2-footed tackle" - I may be wrong, but it seemed to me Vieira's left foot was sliding along the ground when he made contact with the ball. Admittedly Vieira's blood was obviously up, but you can't convict him of recklessly endangering the life of a football.

Then there was the first booking. Apparently it was for "ungentlemanly conduct". Poll himself and Grimandi stopped Vieira doing anything when he reacted angrily after Carragher had smashed a forearm across his face. Normally a sending off offence, violent conduct, but Carragher received only a yellow. Vieira was also booked, presumably "ungentlemanly conduct" includes getting upset.