Absolutely NOT the case.
Only a blind man would tell you they didn't see that Lamela's action was pantomime and poor form.
The truth is that Erik Lamela has not dragged football this way, that has been done for a couple of decades by various forces within and outside the immediate game, not to mention they money.
To love your club and modern football will require a certain acquiescence to one's own hypocrisy. I am anti third-world slave labour yet bought the new away shirts. I am against corporatization of stadiums yet think our new stadium is the absolute nuts.
The deep meaning of sport -and indeed life- has been taken from us a long time ago. We can still operate with a moral code, absolutely, and I'd wager most people here do. But there should also be a recognition that the entire sphere of sport has shifted.
What was more bizarre is that VAR checked it and upheld the red. So there must have been a legitimacy to the decision (again, Lamela's reaction was dramatic to say the least and bricky to be sure).
Of course VAR upheld it .. it was legitimate, here why
- Lamela pushed off Martial at chest level (who was crowding him in the box) with his arm (not elbow, not swung arm), this happens a dozen times a game. By the rule -> worse case scenario would be a yellow (if thought to be intent/violent)
- Martial responded by reaching around Lamela and open hand slapping him in the face. By the rule -> non negotiable red card
Forget Lamela's reaction, that is why it stood.
And let's be clear
- There was no cheating, embellishing may be slightly unsportsmanlike, but it isn't cheating (see above)
- There was no slave trade or massive trade in of our morals
- The clam here is Martial, who allowed himself to be wound up so easily (just like the time Son allowed himself to be sent off)
- Until the standard of refs in football change massively, this will be the only to prevent yourself from being at a serve disadvantage (and we already are with money doping)
And let me remind you of what "sporting behavior" gets you at Old Trafford.