The football media in this country seem to think Kevin Muscat sins should be overlooked because he is a character, a point of difference, because he goes against the grain of what is a fairly uneventful competition.
“He gets people talking about the competition,” they say.
A character! A point of difference?
So do criminals.
That doesn’t mean it is right. Okay, maybe that was a slight over exaggeration. Maybe I am still upset over the fact he will be commentating at the World Cup in South Africa, when I won’t be.
But, ask Charlton’s Matty Holmes who he would rather come into contact with. After Muscat’s challenge ended his career, Muscat was labelled “The Most Hated Man in Football”.
Some may consider Muscat entertaining, with his no holds barred approach to the game. Forever nagging and niggling his opposition to get that vital edge, be it physical or mental.
But should that immune him from any punishment from the higher-ups.
Take an example earlier this year , in a sprightly clash between Melbourne Victory and Gold Coast United. Steve Pantelidis copped an 8 game ban for a disgusting elbow on Melbourne’s Robbie Kruse. Pantelidis got everything he deserved.
Muscat made a similar challenge and ended up getting a week. Muscat’s challenge wasn’t as violent but its intent was every bit malicious, its delivery just wasn’t as well executed.
In analysing these incidents, the football media simply said it was “Muscy being Muscy” and highlighted Muscat as a character and a point of difference in the game.
Whilst Pantelidis was criticised by the same people and chastised for his actions.
Is it because , Pantelidis didn’t play alongside several of these men in his time with the Socceroos or came up alongside them in the NSL or forged careers alongside them in Europe.
Pantelidis actions where more extreme than Muscat, but violence is violence.
These actions may be witnessed by youngsters who then replicate what they have seen on the field the next Saturday morning.
I’m sure the youngsters aren’t seen as characters then, or applauded because they give the mums and dads something to talk about.
Muscat’s comments last week regarding the Asian Champions League is another example. To their credit, the football media this time have stuck the boot in.
If Muscat runs down the Asian Champions League competition, then how can you expect a fan to part with their hard earn to nab a seat.
Another example is Harry Kewell escaping punishment for abusing a match official at the 2006 World Cup. It was seen as Kewell being “passionate in support of his teammates”.
Everyone who wasn’t Australian saw it as abusing a match official. Again a great message to send to the youngsters watching at home.
The game is bigger than one man. The same rules should apply for all. The game is struggling enough in this country without kicking itself in the backside as well.
Muscat has been a great servant to the game. For his clubs and country.
But cheap shots are not a way to get respect and in the end you can only lose it.
Muscat is a character and a point of difference. He certainly gets people talking. But sometimes he hurts the sport more than he helps it.
My point is simple. Regardless of who you are, you do the crime, you do the time.
Players will come and go. The game is what’s most important.
David V.
Guest
Apples and cabbages. Muscat is hated, both here and beyond our shores, for things on the field. Craig Bellamy and Matty Holmes can attest.
Tom
Guest
Haven't heard a lot of hatred for Steffenson. Certainly a lot less than for Muscat. Mundine and Fevola have a much higher profile, so I don't know if they're fair comparisons. Although I'm struggling to think of too many issues Fevola has spoken out on. Just idiotic behaviour, in his case.
damos_x
Guest
i thought the idea of the roar was that we aren't all ' journalists' yet we get to voice our opinions in a civilised manner & just for a moment pretend we do write for a publication so criticising the guy because he isn't a professional is unfair. i don't see anything in the article which is derogatory or insulting other than this is his opinion & now we get to comment, converse etc but about the article, not about the guy & his credentials. as for Muscat, he is definitely the epitome of a coin, ie, 2 sides, i have seen him as a very professional player who inspires his team & leads from the front & won't back down & yet there have been some incidents which make you wonder just what is going on with him.
Adam Santarossa
Guest
Good to see , some nice healthy debate . You dont have to agree , thats why its your sports opinion. All I'm saying is people lay the boot in on others that speak out , Mundine , Fevola , Steffensan , etc....but why does Muscat escape the hatred that say Mundine cops. Is it perhaps that Mundine hasnt got so many mates in the media??. Just a thought.
Simon Smith
Guest
No reasonably qualified and respected 'journalist' would write an articler of that tone and nature. Shame on The Roar edtors for approving its publication.
Australian Football
Roar Guru
I was a bit hash on Muskie---I don't really hate him---only his bad sportsmanship. Nonetheless, he should remember that football has many detractors and any negative comments about the ACL is only fodder for those ready and willing to exploit it, and that is what we must avoid.
Roger Rational
Guest
I don't think Adam Santarossa meant to offend you Mrs Muscat.
Roger Rational
Guest
"I attended the game with a knowledgable and extremely attractive German woman" Gee mate, if your bragging gets any more brazen we'll have to re-name you The Man.
Simon Smith
Guest
This is why only qualified journalists should write articles. Save these comments for the FourFourTwo or World Game Forum. Amatuer comments at the very best.
Tom
Guest
I agree with a lot of this, and I've been a Victory member since they started up. But I'm not sure who these people are who say 'he's a character and thats good for the game.' Never come across that. Citing an example or an article would be awesome. On the other hand, this... http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/jesse-fink/blog/980212/It%E2%80%99s%20called%20karma,%20Kevin ...is a disgrace and no one deserves such a bitter, nasty piece to be written about them after they've just missed a penalty in the grand final. So I think Muscat is a thug and an anachronism, but I think he cops plenty from the media.
Roger
Guest
Sorry Adam, but players should be able to say what they're feeling in post-match interviews - whether you agree with them or not. Why bother to have post-match interviews otherwise? It's not up to the players to be PC.
Art Sapphire
Guest
Just announced on Victory's facebook page. KEVIN MUSCAT TESTIMONIAL: Melbourne Victory vs. Come Play XI. Friday, May 14. Football's first match at AAMI Park! Tickets on sale to members tomorrow through TICKETEK.
dasilva
Guest
Fabio Cannavarro went through the entire 2006 World Cup without getting booked once. This is what he said about his performance against Germany “My performance against Germany was, in my opinion, one of the best of my entire football career. I produced a top performance in defence. I later watched the match again and was really surprised, to be honest. A defender often fells his opponent when tackling, because he is too late so commits a foul. But in this game my tackling was spot on. I don’t think I fouled once” His average foul committed at the World Cup 2006 was about 1.56 per game which is exceptionally low. I don't consider Fabio Cannavarro as a dirty player. I also don't think the likes of Maldini do be particularly dirty players either. The idea that you have to be a dirty player to be a good defender is ridiculous. It's like saying that diving is part of the game. The best attackers in the world will dive when the referee isn't looking. Really there's no difference in morality between diving and dirty defensive tactics.
ItsCalledFootball
Roar Guru
The most hated man in football http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/low/football/teams/w/wolverhampton_wanderers/1651609.stm I think he has been invaluable to Victory and their 2 dominant seasons and he inspires the others around him as well, but I think his behaviour has been unacceptable at times and he is a bad influence on young Leijer.
apaway
Guest
"Another example is Harry Kewell escaping punishment for abusing a match official at the 2006 World Cup. It was seen as Kewell being “passionate in support of his teammates”. Everyone who wasn’t Australian saw it as abusing a match official. Again a great message to send to the youngsters watching at home." Now, it's funny you should write that, Adam. I'm not sure what it has to do with an article on Kevin Muscat, but I was at the Australia-Brazil game in Munch when Harry Kewell launched his post-match tirade at the German referee. I attended the game with a knowledgable and extremely attractive German woman who assured me that the referee was the best German ref in the country. After said ref had given Brazil a 34-9 free kick count, the same woman said, "Well, I can understand Harry's frustration. I want to go and yell at him (the ref) too." So there's one non-Australian fan who saw it as more than the abuse of a match official.
Joanna of Melbourne
Guest
You say it yourself that "players come and go" and that "The game is what’s most important", then way single out one individual player who has done more for the A League than most
Axel V
Guest
A good centre back is never a nice guy, nice guys let in goals. All the best defenders do things when the referee is not looking, it's part of the game.
Axel V
Guest
But if players/coaches get fined for anything slightly controversial they say then you'll always have boring interviews where you can predict every word that they are going to say and they give away nothing. It's enough to make you sleep. Let's admit it, Kosmina, Vidmar, Muscat and Bleiberg are great for entertainment value.
Roger Rational
Guest
He's an animal who represents the dark side of the Australian sporting character.
Realfootball
Guest
He's a lot more likeable than Tiatto, and slightly less mad, but I'll be glad to see the back of him as a player. I remember too his tackle on Dugarry. In a friendly, he makes a tackle like that. He may be a nice bloke, but he's a barbarian on the pitch. Which is a shame, because he is also a very, very good player, and would have been even better if he had kept the dirt out of his game.