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There has been some debate as to whether the action of #9 warrants a send off under the LOTG. Remember that one of the seven listed offenses MUST be cited as the reason for the send off. So which of the seven could the referee use?
I can only see two possibilities. Either Violent Conduct or offensive, insulting, or abusive language and/or gestures.
VC does not seem to be the best fit as although the player did take the card he didn't seem to make physical contact with the referee and even if he did that contact certainly wasn't violent.
Therefore, declaring the snatching of the card from the referee's hand to be an insulting gesture seems to be the only reasonable justification for the send off.
I wonder what the official position of FIFA and the USSF is on this. Perhaps we will see a clarification memo from one of the governing bodies shortly.
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