June 21, 2010 10:24 PM 
Players' antics tarnishing the beautiful game
- Posted by Jason de Vos
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I am the proud father of two beautiful children -- my son is five and my daughter is seven. My son hasn't yet expressed any interest in playing the game that his father made his living at for 18 years, but my daughter has. This is her first season playing the soccer, or "football" as it is called in our house, and as far as I can tell, she is having a blast.
My hope for both of my children is that they learn to play the game with a smile on their faces. Whether they choose to pursue the game past the recreational level is entirely up to them. If they fall in love with the game, as I did, that would be fantastic. If not, there won't be any pressure coming from their old man to carry on the family tradition, so to speak.
What I will insist on, though, is this: If my children do choose to play the game, they will do so with honesty and integrity.
I have been appalled by the dishonesty of some of the players on show at the World Cup. I say some, because not all of the players are engaging in dubious behaviour. The majority of players in South Africa are playing within the rules of the game, and doing so with professionalism and integrity.
The players I am referring to are the ones who are feigning injury, diving or intentionally using their hands to gain an advantage. Some call it gamesmanship, others call it bending the rules. I call it cheating.
Before you accuse me of being morally righteous, I am sure there were instances in my playing days when I, too, was guilty of bending the rules to gain an advantage. I'm sure that all players have done it at one point or another, but I like to think that for the most part, I played the game the right way -- hard, but fair.
Refs have impossible job
Referees have been a major talking point at the World Cup, and they have come in for a fair bit of criticism. Theirs is an impossible job, and I certainly don't envy them. No one mentions them when they do a great job and get everything right; they only become a story when they make a mistake.
Their job is made more difficult by the increasing number of players who feel the need to embellish the slightest bit of contact from an opponent with the intention of getting that opponent sent off.
This is not behaviour that is inherent to one country or region -- it is widespread. Over the last few days, we have witnessed Brazilian handballs, Italian diving, Kiwi shirt pulling, and Swiss and Chilean play-acting. It is an insult to the game and it has to stop.
Many people will blame the players and their lack of moral fibre. After all, most, if not all, of these actions are undertaken willingly by the players.
The players will say in their defence that they are simply playing to win, and the stakes are so high that they will do whatever is necessary to gain a competitive advantage.
While I don't hold out much hope for a moral correction from players any time soon, I do expect FIFA to make some changes to its punishment policy to eliminate this blight on the beautiful game.
Video evidence should be used
Retroactive suspensions should be handed out to any player who is proven, beyond all doubt, to have conned the referee. Be it a dive, an intention handball or the embellishment of physical contact. If there is video evidence that a player has cheated, he should be punished accordingly.
We have all seen the amazing high definition video coverage of the World Cup -- it has been absolutely stunning. How the players think they can get away with anything on the pitch is beyond belief. There is no reason that FIFA can't use the dozens of replay angles that we see to make accurate assessments regarding the conduct of these players.
Only then would we see a reduction in the ridiculous behaviour of those cheats. A retroactive red card, and the suspension that follows, would bring a quick stop to all of it. Who would take the risk of missing out on the greatest sporting event in the world, knowing that every move is caught on video?
For some reason, it has become common practice for players to try to get their fellow professionals sent off. It has to end, and only FIFA has the power to do something about it.
What would the charge be for those players found to be cheating, you ask?
Bringing the game into disrepute, because their conduct is tarnishing the image of the beautiful game.
My hope for both of my children is that they learn to play the game with a smile on their faces. Whether they choose to pursue the game past the recreational level is entirely up to them. If they fall in love with the game, as I did, that would be fantastic. If not, there won't be any pressure coming from their old man to carry on the family tradition, so to speak.
What I will insist on, though, is this: If my children do choose to play the game, they will do so with honesty and integrity.
I have been appalled by the dishonesty of some of the players on show at the World Cup. I say some, because not all of the players are engaging in dubious behaviour. The majority of players in South Africa are playing within the rules of the game, and doing so with professionalism and integrity.
The players I am referring to are the ones who are feigning injury, diving or intentionally using their hands to gain an advantage. Some call it gamesmanship, others call it bending the rules. I call it cheating.
Before you accuse me of being morally righteous, I am sure there were instances in my playing days when I, too, was guilty of bending the rules to gain an advantage. I'm sure that all players have done it at one point or another, but I like to think that for the most part, I played the game the right way -- hard, but fair.
Refs have impossible job
Referees have been a major talking point at the World Cup, and they have come in for a fair bit of criticism. Theirs is an impossible job, and I certainly don't envy them. No one mentions them when they do a great job and get everything right; they only become a story when they make a mistake.
Their job is made more difficult by the increasing number of players who feel the need to embellish the slightest bit of contact from an opponent with the intention of getting that opponent sent off.
This is not behaviour that is inherent to one country or region -- it is widespread. Over the last few days, we have witnessed Brazilian handballs, Italian diving, Kiwi shirt pulling, and Swiss and Chilean play-acting. It is an insult to the game and it has to stop.
Many people will blame the players and their lack of moral fibre. After all, most, if not all, of these actions are undertaken willingly by the players.
The players will say in their defence that they are simply playing to win, and the stakes are so high that they will do whatever is necessary to gain a competitive advantage.
While I don't hold out much hope for a moral correction from players any time soon, I do expect FIFA to make some changes to its punishment policy to eliminate this blight on the beautiful game.
Video evidence should be used
Retroactive suspensions should be handed out to any player who is proven, beyond all doubt, to have conned the referee. Be it a dive, an intention handball or the embellishment of physical contact. If there is video evidence that a player has cheated, he should be punished accordingly.
We have all seen the amazing high definition video coverage of the World Cup -- it has been absolutely stunning. How the players think they can get away with anything on the pitch is beyond belief. There is no reason that FIFA can't use the dozens of replay angles that we see to make accurate assessments regarding the conduct of these players.
Only then would we see a reduction in the ridiculous behaviour of those cheats. A retroactive red card, and the suspension that follows, would bring a quick stop to all of it. Who would take the risk of missing out on the greatest sporting event in the world, knowing that every move is caught on video?
For some reason, it has become common practice for players to try to get their fellow professionals sent off. It has to end, and only FIFA has the power to do something about it.
What would the charge be for those players found to be cheating, you ask?
Bringing the game into disrepute, because their conduct is tarnishing the image of the beautiful game.
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