The trip

[DoubleD]

This offence now is nearly always just penalised with a yellow card these days. Has the law changed or are refs just being lenient?

[LeeF]

It stopped being an automatic red card at least 20 years ago. It’s now either penalty, yellow or red depending upon the severity of the offence

[Coggo]

The trip was seen as the most heinous crime at a time when concussive clumps round the head were fair game. Attitudes change. 

[DI Keith Fowler]

9 hours ago, Coggo said:

The trip was seen as the most heinous crime at a time when concussive clumps round the head were fair game. Attitudes change. 

I appreciate that but the reason the trip was, and to a degree still is, so heavily penalised is because if it were a minor offence players would do it all the time.

Added to that the moral aspect of it seeming sneaky and underhand, overt cheating rather than indiscipline.

[Coggo]

1 hour ago, DI Keith Fowler said:

I appreciate that but the reason the trip was, and to a degree still is, so heavily penalised is because if it were a minor offence players would do it all the time.

Added to that the moral aspect of it seeming sneaky and underhand, overt cheating rather than indiscipline.

Yes, it's an interesting one.

Tripping was probably the greatest moral sin of all back then but I think the attitude towards it has softened somewhat. Maybe that's professionalism?

The greatest sin now is probably a shoulder charge to the head. Certainly high shots are seen as more sinful these days, and concussion is treated more seriously than with a wet sponge and an 'Off you go, lad'. 

[Sports Prophet]

I thought we were gonna start sharing our favourite lines of Brydon and Coogan in one of the best TV series I remember.

[Grimmy]

On 09/06/2026 at 21:41, LeeF said:

It stopped being an automatic red card at least 20 years ago. It’s now either penalty, yellow or red depending upon the severity of the offence

Not sure you will ever see a red for a trip now to be honest. A kick yes.

[Grimmy]

On 10/06/2026 at 07:17, DI Keith Fowler said:

I appreciate that but the reason the trip was, and to a degree still is, so heavily penalised is because if it were a minor offence players would do it all the time.

Added to that the moral aspect of it seeming sneaky and underhand, overt cheating rather than indiscipline.

Would they? No one wants to give up a penalty and you're unlikely to benefit by injuring an opposition player (compared with high tackles, tip tackles etc).

[JonM]

I thought this was going to be about the TV series where Steve coogan shows Rob Brydon how lovely it is up north.

[yipyee]

On 16/06/2026 at 10:06, Grimmy said:

Not sure you will ever see a red for a trip now to be honest. A kick yes.

Last Red i remember for it was a few years back Matty Smith playing for wigan and tripped a widnes player under the sticks maybe after scoring as well?

[Grimmy]

4 hours ago, yipyee said:

Last Red i remember for it was a few years back Matty Smith playing for wigan and tripped a widnes player under the sticks maybe after scoring as well?

No that was a sin bin