Pierluigi Collina Says Luke Shaw, Rafinha Injuries Forced UEFA Referee Action

Pierluigi Collina, UEFA's chief refereeing officer, believes all reckless challenges should be punished, even if the initial tackle plays the ball first. Highlighting the injury Manchester United left-back Luke Shaw suffered in the UEFA Champions League against PSV Eindhoven, Collina insisted today's match officials must prioritise player safety.

His concerns have been prompted by the double leg break Shaw suffered after being tackled by PSV centre-back Hector Moreno. Collina stated how the aftermath of that incident, as well as a similar injury Barcelona's Rafinha suffered, has led to a review of what referees should look for and enforce.

Collina stated, according to Press Association Sport (h/t ESPN FC): "We immediately reminded all of our referees how it is important to be careful in assessing those challenges that can be rated as reckless or even a serious problem."

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Collina was reportedly left unimpressed by how ref Nicola Rizzoli handled the incident. In particular, he didn't like the inherent attitude that playing the ball excuses anything else that may happen as the result of a tackle.

He's called for a change of thinking throughout the game: "We need to make people, even the football community, aware that if you want to protect the safety of the player, even challenges on the ball but risking in terms of endangering safety of an opponent can be punished, should be punished."

These words should be greeted by a rousing cheer. Collina has struck at the heart of an archaic attitude that still pervades today's game. The idea that a challenge resulting in broken bones isn't reckless simply because the tackling player's first contact was with the ball is ridiculous to the point of being offensive.

It's a thought process that has contributed to an attitude of acceptance toward overtly robust tactics during games. Teams that set out to abuse the opposition with rough challenges are often given free license by referees who think being ultra-aggressive is acceptable.

While it's one mode of playing, it certainly isn't the safest. Football has to strike a balance between maintaining its intensity without endorsing the kind of aggression that creates the kind of environment that often leads to serious injuries.