What screwed Tuppet wasn't injuries or the red, what screwed him was getting a Relax and only Shesternyov, while others got access to Pelé, Maldini, Baresi, Romario...
It was anticipating that the luck of the draw was going to have too massive an impact that these events were looked at as ways to create some interference which helps you out in two cases: 1) you may not have the biggest names, but have a strong squad, 2) you may have some players being less appreciated for their lack of legendary blood and thunder.
It isn't completely arbitrary as your ability to cope is your own doing (depth and disciplinary record). It was rather unfortunate that Tuppet's squad wasn't very good either (seems he never had luck with his rolls) and that in Patrick Vieira he had a player with one red card less than the entire rival XI (but then, that's part of the package with Patrick Vieira).
In any case, it's clear where the game was heading without any of this stuff. There's a reason Skizzannah could afford to have Didí on their bench.
