In the Premiership, play only stops at the referee's command. Players are still permitted to kick the ball out if somebody looks seriously injured enough they warrant immediate attention, but the recent English initiative was introduced presumably to cut out play-acting.

On the final night of the group stages of the European Under-21 Championship, Serbian players were seemingly incensed after substitute Matt Derbyshire carried on as Slobodan Rajkovic lay on the turf in apparent pain, despite England having a man over.

Remarkable scenes followed the incident. As Derbyshire wrapped up victory for England, ensuring a crucial three points, the Blackburn winger had his goal celebration cut abruptly short by a posse of angry opponents pushing and shoving him before his own team-mates came to his rescue.

'As Derbyshire wrapped up victory, the Blackburn winger had his goal celebration cut abruptly short by a posse of angry players'


Serbia's coach Miroslav Djukic said his players felt Derbyshire should have put the ball out. "It was unsporting from an England side who say they are gentlemen," he said. "Tonight they were not gentlemen."

Then, in the 88th minute, just as the dust was settling on the controversy that culminated in the German referee yellow-carding a player from both sides, Tom Huddlestone came on for a brief run-out in place of captain Nigel Reo-Coker.

The Tottenham midfielder had no idea just how short the stint on the pitch - his first action since the first group game against the Czech Republic - would turn out to be.

The press at home has been pretty conclusive in rounding up the fact that Huddlestone, described by England Under-21 team-mate Steven Taylor as a "gentle giant off the pitch but fearsome presence on it", was shown a straight red for uttering an expletive.

"What he has done is wrong and he must learn from it," manager Stuart Pearce said afterwards, suggesting that Huddlestone, who made 35 club appearances for Spurs last season, including six in Europe, had admitted his wrongdoing and that he had directed some venom at the referee. Unfortunately the official wanted to affirm his authority on a contest that was already over.

The dismissal seemed extremely harsh, and the player was clearly stunned before he headed down the tunnel.
Reo-Coker added: "Unfortunately for Tom, he likes to get involved in the banter, but he’s terrible at it."