And that’s where you are mistaken. They did not set a baseline, they made an exception for the best, most iconic, and most marketable player in the tournament.
It’s unfair crap, but it is what ever sporting organization consciously or unconsciously does rather often.
I’ve already seen the video; it’s a very detailed analysis of the stewards’ pressing behavior. 
Ah, I see, so Serious Foul Play is permitted in that situation.
Lads, I have found the Arsenal fan…
That was also an argument that US commentary used was that the defender “came out of nowhere” as though that is somehow relevant.
Or even possible.
That assumes that there is serious foul play
Contact with the studs is one of the paradigmatic examples of endangering the wellbeing of an opponent.
By arguing that there was no attempt to play the ball, you have actually made the case that it really was Violent Conduct, and should be three games.
Incidental contact happens in football. Sometimes they lead to bad outcomes. But they do not all rise to the same level of SFP or VC
It may happen in football. It does not happen to be in the Laws of the Game.
Today’s temperature in Toronto. It’s going to be roasting for the Portugal vs Croatia match. Add 5-8°C for humidity.
That is probably the most appealing game today. Not sure which side is better suited to the conditions. Are there any storm warnings in place? Ottawa area got about 120mm of rain yesterday, and hours of violent lightning activity.
I am so very much looking forward to my Friday evening game…humidex at kickoff predicted to be 40 (31 C air temp). By rule, games are cancelled at Humidex 41.
Doesn’t look like there is going to be any rain or thunderstorm approaching until much later into the night.
We had all kinds of storms yesterday.
Toronto has proper NA summer weather. Meanwhile in Mexico city its mild enough that even the english might need a cardi
It happens to be integral to the interpretation of the laws of the game
They didn’t make any exceptions. They however set a high standard for VAR intervention.
They departed from that yesterday
So is that likely to be around 20°C at the time of the game against England?
Just a thought, to help our ENG boys adapt to the altitude, there is this Cacao leaves tea which tourists drink before they go o see visit Macchu Pichu (Peru). It helps with the acclimitisation The boys need some of that stuff in their beverages.
I think it’s on the WADA banned substances list.
The defenders yesterday played like they were on an ayawasca trip so can’t see how this could possibly go wrong 
I was outside for no more than 10 minutes yesterday in heat with a “real feel” of 40C - literally just to tend to our little garden - and I was soaked with sweat and felt nauseous when I got back inside. I can’t imagine attending a match in that kind of heat, let alone playing in one.
I’ve sat in stadiums where it has been closer to 32 or 33C, and I’ve had to duck out into the concourse just to get respite from the heat.
