SoccerIs fair play a thing of the past?

Beginning of Story Content

Only The Special One would be as arrogant as to point an accusing finger at the referee and then go on to boast his team would still have won with only seven men, rather than the nine with which it finished the contest.

But this is Italy and Italy is theatre. Mourinho needed no invitation to ramp up the rivalry by delivering a show-stopping line for which he will, no doubt, be fined and censured. What does he care? His team is nine points ahead of the chasing pack and seemingly unstoppable in the race for another Serie A title.

Height of disrespect shameful

On a soccer field, theatre comes in many forms. It ranges from elaborate goal celebrations to contemptuous simulation, not to mention the well-rehearsed mime as players wave imaginary cards at opponents in an attempt to induce the referee to brandish the real thing.

Odious though they are, these indiscretions are no match for the felony that is disrespect. Look up the word in an Italian dictionary and you may see a mug shot of Wesley Sneijder. The Dutch midfielder was shown a real red card for nothing more than sarcasm. And he deserved everything he got.

Sneijder was sent off for mocking the referee who had correctly booked teammate Ferreira Lucio for diving. The Dutchman probably knew his sardonic applause would lead to another yellow card but he continued regardless. The straight red which followed cut short the ovation.

We have become conditioned to accept this kind of behaviour from players and so we are mildly shocked when an official takes a stand. Signore Rocchi will be berated for being heavy handed when a cool head was required in the intensity of a Milan derby. I, for one, applaud his decision without a hint of sarcasm.

If players cannot be adult enough to respect the man in charge then they deserve to be treated like disobedient children. The referee’s job is hard enough without him having to endure humiliation, which, at times, borders on open hostility. He’s a human being too, trying his best to administer fair play.

The man in the middle has to be part democrat, part dictator. He must control the players under his authority in an even-handed, respectful manner and should expect the same in return. On the field of play his word is law, but it seems to me too many players are all too eager to declare the law is an ass.

Sneijder and Mourinho should be ashamed of themselves. Does the player not understand the message he is sending out to youngsters developing a lifelong passion for the game? Does the manager not comprehend the potential damage he is inflicting on a league too often mired in allegations of corruption?

Mockery of the laws

Cristiano Ronaldo was another to fall foul of the Laws of the Game over the weekend. Having won the game for Real Madrid with both goals against Malaga, he then proceeded to break an opponent’s nose with a deliberate elbow to the face. The referee issued an equally deliberate red card to a player so gifted and yet so arrogant he probably believes he is above the law.

We all want our team to win but surely not at any cost. Maybe my values have changed with the advancing years, but I would rather see my team lose with dignity than bamboozle its way to victory. FIFA doesn’t even have a law to deal with Thierry Henry, but what are French fans really thinking about their passage to and participation in the 2010 World Cup?

Has honesty and integrity in professional soccer sunk so low as to be a laughable irrelevance? When June 11th rolls around and we settle down for a month-long football fiesta, featuring Sneijder, Ronaldo and Henry, let’s not bother with pre-game rituals like shaking hands and official banners promoting Fair Play. It is the height of hypocrisy and sadly we all know it.

End of Story Content

Back to accessibility links