Whilst i think you're right, the referee isn't allowed to sinbin someone to prevent them from committing an offence - they have to actually have committed one.

That cannot possibly be true - how on earth can a referee know a player is going to commit an offence in the future. If they could then i'd also like next weeks lottery numbers.

id pay 25 quid to see sir les dismantle carney or any one else for that matter.no contest really

Carney is a pretty horrible human being.

The referee sin binned players for offences. The reason that the hair-ruffle one is being talked about is, whilst it was technically an offence, it was done by the referee to try and restore some control over the game. Personally, I think his heavy handed whistle blowing contributed to that (well if he's going to blow for everything lets make it worthwhile) rather than it being a symptom of a "dirty game"

I think he would have binned Murdoch had Carney not had a brain fart, i think in Hicks mind he needed to send a message out to nip it in the bud.