For the entirety of 38 games at the 2018 FIFA World Cup, you could do whatever the hell you pleased at corner kicks. Use Pepe as a battering ram to create some space for Ronaldo? Sure. Tackle Harry Kane to the ground with two players? Why not. Shove Miranda in the back to snatch a Swiss equalizer? That sounds wild, but we’ll definitely allow it.
Unfortunately, the lawlessness of the wild, wild west corner has been brought to a close at the 2018 World Cup because Javier Mascherano has been made an example of — he’s basically like one of those horror stories you used to hear concerning a 12-year-old getting sued for illegally downloading music from Napster. You were just glad it wasn't you.
“It was just a bit of fun,” you can almost hear Mascherano saying to the ref. “Literally everyone’s doing it!”
“Not anymore, child,” says Turkish referee Cuneyt Cakir. Except we know nothing will change — this is gonna happen a hundred more times at the 2018 World Cup and a penalty will never be called.
"But it's a point of emphasis now!"
I love when that phrase is trotted out to defend a token decision.
Having said all that, it’s still a foul on Mascherano. You just don’t want to be the 12-year-old that gets sued by the music industry. That’s all I’m saying.
#MundialTelemundo ¡A detalle! @ElizondoOK analiza detenidamente las jugadas polémicas del duelo entre #ARG y #NGA pic.twitter.com/qeZ4SHyQqg
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) June 26, 2018
#MundialTelemundo Por la vía penal @VictorMoses empata el partido para #NGA y pone drama en #ARG . Lo sigues por @Telemundo pic.twitter.com/RaZhi5n6yZ
— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) June 26, 2018
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