[Serious Foul Play / Sending-off] A studs-up challenge to an opponent's head

The referee applied the definition of serious foul play to a challenge that endangered an opponent's safety. FC Tokyo's No. 4 tried to head a ball at waist height; this was not an unusually low position for a header. Verdy's No. 9 stretched a foot towards the same ball with the studs facing the opponent, and the foot struck the opponent's head. Law 12 requires a sending-off for a tackle or challenge that endangers an opponent's safety or uses excessive force. Raising the studs to waist height against a player attempting to head the ball created a serious risk of injury. The referee judged the challenge to have endangered the opponent and showed a red card.