Take a look at this.
- Darren Randolph
- Cyrus Christie
- Shane Duffy
- Ciaran Clark
- Stephen Ward
- Glenn Whelan
- Harry Arter
- Aiden McGeady
- James McClean
- Daryl Murphy
Come Tuesday, every one of them could be suspended. Why? Because they have a yellow card already in this campaign.
Ireland head into a World Cup playoff clash already shorn of David Meyler who’s being punished because he picked up two yellow cards in 10 games. For those on the same boat who already qualified for the World Cup or missed out, their offences are wiped but Ireland being tasked with two extra games means the yellow card rule continues, disproportionately and harshly.
McClean, for example, is only back from missing a game against Moldova but a caution versus Wales means he’s now walking a tightrope. It means that another yellow card – two in two games – would have him out of the home clash with Denmark.
The entire back five of the Republic could be ruled out for the second leg because the rule means that, technically, if you average a yellow card every 5.5 games, you get a suspension for the most important fixture.
The entire starting back five as well as Harry Arter, the country’s top scorers McClean and Murphy could all miss out on top of Aiden McGeady and, God willing, Glenn Whelan.
It’s not great for Denmark either with Kasper Schmeichel, Thomas Delaney and Christian Eriksen among their naughty boys.
But in a team that already consistently plays above itself, in a squad already missing Seamus Coleman, James McCarthy and Jon Walters and with David Meyler gone on Saturday, having 10 more up for suspension on Tuesday is nightmare stuff.
And the fact they’re in that position because the rule says that if you have one yellow card in 10 games, you’ll miss the biggest game if you get another in the bonus round 11th, is frankly bullshit.
