BBC SPORT | Football | Eng Prem | Rennie must not face rap



By Phil McNulty BBC Sport Online chief football writer

Uriah Rennie's background as a kick-boxer and Aikido expert provided the perfect preparation for confronting a raging Roy Keane at Sunderland.

Referee Rennie cut an imposing figure as he restrained Manchester United captain Keane when he advanced menacingly towards Jason McAteer in the stormy 1-1 draw at The Stadium of Light.

Your say: Should Rennie be punished?

It was an example of an official reacting decisively to defuse a potential flashpoint - and has won widespread praise from fans, pundits and those inside the game.

Rennie faces reprimand

How sad it is then that Rennie's prompt action has led to him being hit over the head with a rulebook that states he broke a golden rule of refereeing by laying hands on Keane.

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In the world of the Professional Match Officials Games Board - a title that just smacks of an organisation that adores rules and regulations - he was in the wrong.

The body that oversees officials would have his arms shackled tightly by red tape, and certainly not allowed to be used to touch a footballer.

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It is a safe bet Keane himself is probably grateful to Rennie for helping him at least delay his red card at Sunderland by a few minutes.

Rennie was acting on instinct to stop Keane's march towards McAteer.

It was refereeing at its best - and should be praised rather than criticised.

If Rennie had been as inflexible as the referees' rulebook at Sunderland, The Stadium of Light could have been the scene of a major incident and even more lurid headlines than it has already had.

Keith Cooper, an outstanding ex-referee and someone who demonstrated the human touch when in charge and was occasionally even seen smiling, was also forced to insist Rennie was in the wrong.

Rennie eventually showed Keane red card

Cooper, now spokesman for the Premier League and Football League match officials agreed Rennie handled the incident well - but should not have manhandled Keane.

It is essential that there is a dividing line between the authority of officialdom and players, and Cooper has a valid point when he suggests the latter must not be mishandled.

But Rennie's intervention was as the honest peace-maker, in the fashion of someone stepping in to stop a bar-room brawl.

No-one has suggested referees should push players to the ground in anger, or verbally abuse players for poor play.

If those who wish to criticise Rennie want to pursue him, they should ponder what would have happened had he not stepped in.

The incident may not simply have been confined to Keane and McAteer.

Battle would surely have been joined by others - and an already hostile atmosphere inside The Stadium of Light could have reached boiling point.

Sheffield magistrate Rennie has invited criticism in the past with his showboating and the signing of autographs before matches.

But he has fought his way back into the Premiership - and his wise interception of Keane demonstrated exactly why.

Rennie should be praised not buried, but the referee's code of conduct appears to state otherwise.