As stated many times on The Roar, football (i.e. soccer) has moved on in Australia in leaps and bounds over the past seven to eight years, which is great. It seems a similar thing is happening in New Zealand at the moment.
One of the negatives though of ‘taking the game to the masses’ is the labels that other teams are getting. For example, over the past few days since New Zealand played Italy, there seems to be a stereotyping in the Australasian media (counting NZ here as well) that Italy are “divers” or “cheats”.
To be frank, most casual/occasional soccer supporters in this part of the world have only seen Italy play twice, once against Australia (in 2006) and now versus New Zealand.
I note also at this point that a German player was booked for diving versus Australia a week or so ago.
My main concern is that, as the game opens up to the masses, that stereotyping of other teams (or nationalities) is defacto racism. By that I mean, by labeling the Italian team as “cheats” or labeling the Germans as “boring” (which they weren’t), it’s stereotyping and a form of racism.
Whilst I am proud of the gains and process made by the game in Australia of late, I fear that an ‘ugly’ element is being exposed by this stereotyping during the World Cup.
Stephen Smith
Guest
punter - pay no attention, the sort of people who "respect hardness" are the same ones who think NRL players are good role models. They have an outdated opinion of manliness that suggests only those capable of giving (or taking) a punch without falling over is a "real man." That includes belting their womenfolk too. They are pathetic - and the reason their game has never taken off anywhere else, is because the rest of the world wants nothing to do with their archaic views, nor their tedious "five-tackle-and-kick" game.
punter
Guest
Yes I agree, I prefer a game who respects toughness, physicality & hardness, where you can headbutt someone but because you are deemed a good player can get away with it or spear tackle someone to an inch of being confined to a wheelchair. yeah respect.
Peter K
Guest
lol I agree it applies to both AFL and Soccer!
Mattay
Guest
I agree, yet AFL appears to be popular, so I don't get it. You were talking about AFL, right?
Peter K
Guest
How can you respect a game where at the top level the players are like actors or professional wrestlers. A glancing blow and they writhe on the ground holding their face. A leg comes near you and you look like you are at the olympics on the 3 metre springboard! Certainly not one for people who respect toughness , physicality and hardness.
drew777
Roar Pro
Australians are known as being very physical and give away a lot of free kicks, NZ are probably known as a weak/unknown side despite their performance this WC) in international football. Do you think that is racism? I don't think it's racism, just people associating different attributes to countries. Now if someone were to say very offensive things about an African nation similar to the wrongs done in USA then yes, that would be racism. Italy: divers. Only got that tag because they dive. It is not offensive, they are not discriminated against because of that (like Australia appears to be discriminated against because of tough tackles ie: Cahill send off). So I don't believe this is racism at all. Besides racism is; "discriminatory or abusive behavior towards members of another race".
craig
Guest
I read a better article than this on the back of a coco pops packet when i was eating breakfast this morning. But if it looks like a diver and acts like a diver then you know it most likely is a diver.
rugbyfuture
Roar Guru
hate to tell you, but soccer has been opened up to the masses for 50 years if not longer. its only getting support for a proffesional, domestic league which is the problem
Alders
Guest
For it to be racist Italy and Germany would have to have only one race of people. Both are multicultural societies. I think the word you are looking for is xenophobic.