No, could've given him a yellow. Vidic got a yellow for his hand ball and Germany were awarded a penalty.

Hmmmmm, Silly they never overturn anything in football.

I love Harry but it was as red card offence. Get over it.
And if his World Cup is over like that well...
Look at the bright side...
At least he didn't headbutt someone in his last game... He tried to protect the goal... Its instinct.

Any1 who thinks that was a red has got NO idea about football...emotions aside, it wasn't a red and thats that!

Any1 that thinks that wasnt a red card has got NO idea about football... emotions aside, it was red and thats that!

count the red cards from referees at this tournament... can FIFA have a system that can send a referee off or sin bin him if he's having a shit game? The Kaka incident and Fabiano goal against Ivory Coast(twice hand ball) was appalling... if Fabiano can get away with two hand balls and score a goal, how the hell is Harry's unintentional shoulder a hand ball? You're a dickhead Sepp Blatter

As an avid Socceroos supporter, so i'm only posting this to correctly inform some commenters. I am also a referee of about 12 years. The Laws of the Game clearly give the referee no option but to send the player off if it is deemed to be a delibrate handball... The issue here is whether it was considered deliberate... And by deliberate, i mean if the player positions his arms in a way that increases the size of his body, therefore increases his chance of stopping the ball, then it is deemed "deliberate"... IMO, the referee made the correct call [although many other calls in the game were wrong]. The only other scenario is that the contact was deemed "unintentional" and a corner kick awarded. There is no provision in the laws for a yellow card, or a penalty and no card... A yellow card would have been issued if Harry had struck the ball "intentionally" but the ball went into the goal anyway. This scenario therefore, means that Harry has "attemped, but failed" to deny a goal by way of hand ball.

If he gives the penalty he has to send him off simple as that.

If he gives the penalty he's deemed it a foul and deliberate or an unacceptable and unfair advantage(which it was) then it is a penalty and a red he can't give a penalty and a yellow.

It was never a red card. The initial contact was with shoulder and then the ball bounced down to hit his bicep. A red card SHOULD be reserved for an INTENTIONAL attempt to stop a goal - eg raising the arm and stopping a shot...
Kewell reacted normally (every player in his position) would do that... Its a shame that Red cards are being used for normal free kicks - instead of what they were intended for - Serious and intentional fouls or professional fouls.
I think the ref could have given a penalty and not sent him off. Send offs should be kept for those outrageous attempts at fouling or saving goals... Stupido italiano

With his health? It'd be tough, even by Harry's standards

Fifa are a piss weak bunch of wankers. 'Intentional' my arse. Save the refs arse, you bet.

It hit his bicep, which is considered a hand ball, and is arm was away from his body.

"denying a clear goal scoring opportunity" <- the aim of football is stop the your opponent scoring... and he didn't 'hand ball' it hit his upper arm/ shoulder area that was at his side. like harry said there wasnt much more he could do without cutting his own arm off or something. he is allowed to defend on the goal line as long as he doesnt use his hands, and the ball DID NOT hit his hand.

no reason why kewell cant back up for 2014........

To the letter it was correct but that rule is pretty harsh. unintentional should never be a red card.

yellow and penalty and red for intentional. Thanks for screwing the game up ref and lucky for you, you can hide your actions behind the fifa banner.

What a sad story it would be for Harry to finish like this. After all the injury woes etc... and then to simply "disappear" from the NT setup.

This is a really sorry day for Oz football. I hope he plays a testimonial at least back home before giving it away (if thats what he intends).

Better still I would like the team to go out and smash Serbia to ensure Harry gets another run.


What do you think about the FourFourTwo article Aussies Accept Harry's Ban?
AUSTRALIA has been forced to accept Harry Kewell's one-match ban for his red card in Saturday's 1-1 draw with Ghana despite claims from the Socceroos camp he shouldn't have been sent off.

Have your say.