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It boils down to whether or not an offence was committed by Friedel.
Clearly if Friedel committed a penal offence n his penalty area - a penalty must be the ref's call. It is also without dispute that if Friedel blocked Torres from a potential goalscoring opportunity, the ref has no recourse but to dismiss Friedel.
...but did Friedel block Torres? The answer to that simple question determines in each person's mind if Friedel should have been punished.
As alluded to above if YES - Friedel must be sent off (red carded) and then a penalty awarded and the actions must be carried out in that order.
If NO - Friedel should not have been punished and a penalty could not have been awarded.
The FIFA "Laws of the Game" and decisions of the IFAB may shed some light on why some refs hold the position that based on movement of the players immediately before Torres ran into Friedel, Friedel should not have been punished.
Impeding the progress of an opponent
Impeding the progress of an opponent means moving into the path of the opponent to obstruct, block, slow down or force a change of direction by an opponent when the ball is not within playing distance of either player.
All players have a right to their position on the field of play, being in the way of an opponent is not the same as moving into the way of an opponent.
My reason for giving a "no punishment to Friedel" has been clearly stated ad infinitum, Brad Friedel remained motionless, excepting to turn away his face and upper body to lessen harm to himself. He made no effort to move into the path of Torres.
Friedel exercised his right to his position on the field of play, in line with the direction in which the ball was traveling...Torres was the person moving! He it was that ran into Friedel not the other way around.
Clearly if Friedel committed a penal offence n his penalty area - a penalty must be the ref's call. It is also without dispute that if Friedel blocked Torres from a potential goalscoring opportunity, the ref has no recourse but to dismiss Friedel.
...but did Friedel block Torres? The answer to that simple question determines in each person's mind if Friedel should have been punished.
As alluded to above if YES - Friedel must be sent off (red carded) and then a penalty awarded and the actions must be carried out in that order.
If NO - Friedel should not have been punished and a penalty could not have been awarded.
The FIFA "Laws of the Game" and decisions of the IFAB may shed some light on why some refs hold the position that based on movement of the players immediately before Torres ran into Friedel, Friedel should not have been punished.
Impeding the progress of an opponent
Impeding the progress of an opponent means moving into the path of the opponent to obstruct, block, slow down or force a change of direction by an opponent when the ball is not within playing distance of either player.
All players have a right to their position on the field of play, being in the way of an opponent is not the same as moving into the way of an opponent.
Friedel exercised his right to his position on the field of play, in line with the direction in which the ball was traveling...Torres was the person moving! He it was that ran into Friedel not the other way around.
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