Did Beckham-sama Deserve The Red?

I watched the England vs Austria World Cup qualifying match last night with enthusiasm and faith that Sven-Goran Eriksson's men will thrash the out-of-sync and managerless Austrian team at Old Trafford, home of David Beckham's former team, Manchester United. Just as what he did in the last two matched with his current club Real Madrid, playing as right flank pounding lethal crosses towards opponent's territory for either Crouch or Owen to pick it up and deliver the goals. It was Mr. Dependable, Frank Lampard who smacked the goal from the penalty spot.

And then the unexpected came. Beckham was judged to have fouled Austrian defender Andreas Ibertsberger in an aerial challenge and was given a yellow card. Then about 30 seconds later, he was controversially sent off after he was judged to have fouled the same player with a last-second restrained challenge, and left Ibertsberger on the ground 'grimacing' in pain. I thought the yellow card was harsh. Beckham jumped with his hands down and tried to head the ball, not the man. Then I thought the red card was even harsher. At the very moment, I knew Beckham knew that it's gonna cost him if he were to stick a leg out to challenge Ibertsberger for the ball, and he didn't. It was just a contact of the Austrian's boot and Beckham's knee.

It is time for video refereeing to be implemented for soccer, at least on such international occassion like the World Cup. Too many controversial decisions had been made, and will be made.