Needless ejections: Neymar, Eric Hassli show us the way

How far does a manager’s responsibility extend in terms of getting their players to freakin’ behave?

I’m wondering about this today as a spate of ridiculous dismissals highlight the highlights.

Last night in Vancouver, Whitecaps striker Eric Hassli was the man in the spotlight on what must stand as one of the silliest, most unnecessary expulsions in the history of soccer.

Having converted a penalty kick and already carrying a yellow card, Hassli ran toward the crowd and took off his jersey. Remember, now, Hassli is a Designated Player for Vancouver, which means he’s the highest earner on the side. Surely, that means something to him in terms of leadership? At the very least, shouldn’t he have enough sense of responsibility to stay on the darn field? By the way, he is just back from serving a one-game suspension for his last needless ejection.

Someone might defend his action because Hassli actually had another game jersey below the one he threw into the stands … but I’m not buying it. A player carrying a yellow card has to conduct himself with the utmost care. I mean, the man is an adult. He’s not a child. Adults have to think things through.

If he didn’t carefully consider this stunt, weighing the benefits (whatever those may be) against the possible consequences, then he should have. Carrying a yellow card, he should have shelved the theatrics for the next time.

Down in Brazil, scoring sensation Neymar did something similar. After scoring – a terrific little goal, by the way, for the little wisp of a forward – he donned a mask of himself. He was already carrying a yellow card. Thus, Santos was left a man down for the important Copa Libertadores match against Chile’s Colo Colo.

I understand that players wish to express themselves during these goal celebrations. But, seriously, props? Can't they celebrate and express themselves without the use of surplus materials?

Now, back to the managers. How far should they go in asking (or demanding) that players understand the jeopardy in over-the-top goal celebrations? Presumably, they would like to think that they don’t need to go over such mundane matters; but it seems apparent that they do. As some point they need to have a little chat about what players can and cannot do.

MLS manager: "Let's see. Preseason is winding down, have we covered it all? We've gone over defending set pieces. We know how to play 11 v 10. We've rehearsed pattern play in the attack. Ah! Yes ... We still need to have have the annual chat where we remind players not to be idiots about the way they celebrate a damn goal!"

Obviously, not all cautions and ejections are about celebrations. Most cards are handed out for bad tackles, dissent, violent action, etc. And many of the cautions and ejections are going to habitual offenders.

This much I am more certain about: certain players have hot-headed reputations. Hot heads are ejections waiting to happen. I think managers absolutely bear from responsibility here. They sign the players. They assign them to starting roles. They know the risk.

There was one ejection in a U.S. Open Cup match last night. I haven’t seen the video, so I am hesitant to out the player and the coach; I cannot fairly say whether this controversial red card was justified. But I will say this: on my notes from last week’s MLS league matches, I typed out that this very player will get himself thrown out of a match pretty soon.

If I noticed this, then it can’t be a secret to the coach. In the end, coaches who repeatedly trot out players prone to collecting unneeded yellow cards get what they deserve. Discipline is part of the game. Sometimes I think it needs to be a bigger part of the calculus when it comes to who does and doesn’t play.