Weekly Why: Premier League, Jamie Vardy and the Legislating of Emotion

Welcome to Bleacher Report's Weekly Why, a place where we discuss world football's biggest questions that may go neglected and/or avoided. Ranging from the jovial to the melancholic, no subject matter is deemed off limits.

Why Can't Players Show Genuine Emotions? 

Did Jamie Vardy dive?

It was the weekend's principal question.

Some might argue Leicester City's centre-forward was within his rights to seek contact with West Ham United defender Angelo Ogbonna, trying everything to get his club a crucial three points. Others are more punitive, thinking, with him already in referee Jon Moss' book, why take a chance at seeing two yellow cards?

Vardy took that gamble, received his second yellow card in 28 minutes and was issued a red card.

I'm not too concerned about the legitimacy of the 29-year-old's second booking. I'm more in the former camp, though. If Vardy thought he wasn't going to score, or sincerely thought contact was imminent, going down is perfectly fine in my opinion. If you get "caught" diving, however, you reap the consequences.

One of England's newer internationals was indeed "caught," then punished, and that should have been that—but it wasn't. Probably feeling there was enough contact to go down, Vardy protested his booking with a pointing gesture and penetrative words aimed at Moss.

Dan Mullan/Getty Images

I'm reminded of times I would argue with my mother a bit too vociferously, and she responded with: "Thou doth protest too much." Using a derivative from William Shakespeare's Hamlet to imply because I fervently declared my innocence, it meant I was guilty.

There are serious flaws with that argument, of which I pointed out numerous times, but maybe on a case-by-case basis—Vardy being one—there is some validity.

Digressing slightly, Moss surely documented his displeasure in his post-match report, and on Monday, Leicester City's leading scorer was charged, as reported by BBC Sport, with improper conduct by the Football Association. This could extend Vardy's one-match ban to two (possibly three) games.

In a normal season, the Foxes mightn't worry too much about their striker's availability with four matches left, but the 2015/16 season isn't exactly normal. Claudio Ranieri's men are eight points from winning the Premier League title, and their entire campaign has been sparked by Vardy's attacking exploits.

Tottenham Hotspur are closing in terrific form—their last two league fixtures have been won by a difference of seven goals. The five-point gap between Spurs and Leicester could be erased in two matchdays. Not having Vardy for two (or even three) matches, therefore, might irreparably damage the league leaders' title challenge.

Football is an emotional game. All sports are, but football more than most. The fluidity and human element combine for beautiful spectacle and ever-changing scenarios.

Dan Mullan/Getty Images

"

2 - Jamie Vardy is only the second Leicester player to score and be sent off in the same PL game (also David Lowe v Wimbledon in 94). Dive.

— OptaJoe (@OptaJoe) April 17, 2016"

Michael Regan/Getty Images

Vardy went from thinking "I've got a penalty" to "I've been sent off and will miss the next game" in a matter of seconds. That swing of emotion—especially in a low-scoring, pressurised environment like the Premier League—is sure to explode.

Does that fully justify abusing referees?

Of course not, but it does help explain it. The discourse surrounding Vardy's expulsion, though, is quite unbelievable. Pundits suggesting two or three games for yelling/pointing at the referee doesn't compute for me.

Maybe because I'm an argumentative person, I view Vardy's emotion as passion more than disrespect. That tenacity is what makes Leicester City's talismanic striker what he is. One doesn't arrive from the depths of non-league football, to nearly winning the Premier League and Premier League Golden Boot, without an oasis of aggression; take Vardy's fortitude and you take him.

Issuing a two-match ban (or three-match ban) goes beyond the scope. Straight red cards, normally given for unlawfully preventing goalscoring opportunities or making potential leg-breaking challenges are three games. Does the centre-forward yelling/pointing at Moss warrant that level of punishment? In other words: Does the sentence fit the crime?

Unless there's a hidden-camera angle yet to be realised, Vardy kept his hands to himself. If he touched Moss, then a lengthy ban would be warranted but only under that scenario. Anything more is overreaching, and the Football Association attempting to protect their officials (even after a widely criticised refereeing performance).

Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images

Furthermore, at what point do we quell natural human emotion?

Obviously violence (stamping, kicking out, etc.), spitting, biting, racial abuse and/or sexually targeted language should be dealt with, but short of those, does pointing at the referee and saying he made a horrible decision really require the full weight of England's FA behind it? I'm not so sure.

We don't watch football to see robots. Part of the attraction is observing personalities clash. Watching Diego Costa battle with Gabriel Paulista, for example, is entertaining. Take their fight from them, even when aimed at referees, and the game loses the crucial element of personality.

Can players go too far? Yes. We've seen players like Costa, Eric Cantona and Joey Barton take things beyond reason, and in those instances I'd write something different, but Vardy's actions weren't on that level.

When the Leicester City man fell, that was perfectly within the boundary of his thinking. Once he received the punishment, however, are we fine legislating overreactions when the initial action isn't objective? Moss' reasoning was one interpretation from a handful of possible outcomes. On another day, he could have given nothing, on another, given a penalty; it's entirely subjective.

In that case, punishing Vardy beyond the prescribed limit of one match, because he argued the other side in a passionate manner, doesn't seem fair. Again, I'm reminded, this time of my father, who would tell me: "Daniel, life isn't always fair." Shouldn't we be trying to make it more so, though?

I'm convinced suspending Vardy until May 7 (or May 15) doesn't help that mission any.

Last Weekly: Chelsea, Antonio Conte and the 'Lure' of European Football | Why Do We Think European Football Is So Attractive?

Follow @danieltiluk

*Stats via WhoScored.com; transfer fees via Soccerbase where not noted.