At every match of this World Cup there have been banners promoting ‘Fair Play’. By definition Fair Play usually refers to sportsmanship of players. This involves both playing to the written law, and also to the so called ‘Spirit of the Game’.
FIFA itself has produced a Fair Play code that it expects all players to abide by.
Historians and fans alike, looking back on this World Cup will no doubt remember the tournament for its colourful Vuvuzelas and refereeing errors, but they will almost certainly not remember it as a tournament where Fair Play was promoted and upheld to the highest degree.
The Fair Play initiative started after El Diegos infamous ‘Hand of God’ goal in the 1986 FIFA World Cup. It is ironic that perhaps the unfair play of this World Cup is also brought to a climax by another handball.
Although perhaps not as memorable as Diegos, this handball more deliberate and perhaps more even more devastating for the opposition.
Regardless of the outcome of the Ghana versus Uruguay match after the handball, it can no longer be said that FIFA is serious about Fair Play. A one match ban handed to Luis Suarez surely does more to promote the cause of cheating to get ahead, rather than that of having fun and playing to the rules.
Kids all around the world have been watching this World Cup, and the actions of the players speak larger than the words on the banners, coming from FIFA media releases, or spoken by the players themselves.
Other instances of blatant cheating were continued instances of diving, Fabiano’s ball handling against Ivory Coast and Thierry Henry’s handball during qualifying. Huge referee errors such as England’s disallowed goal, Argentina’s offside goal, and Tim Cahill’s send off also raise significant questions about the integrity of the referees.
Kids all over the world have learnt a valuable lesson at this World Cup. Cheating is rewarded, while playing to the rules lessens your chance of success.
How many players at this World Cup could say confidently ‘My Game is Fair Play’?
Forgetmenot
Guest
Some people just don’t ‘get’ football. That is fine by me. Football for mine is the most frustrating, painful, unjust and wonderful game of all. I used to try to assist people understand football, but not any more, as people will either ‘fall under its spell’ like millions of others or they wont. I don’t like diving, but I love football more than I hate diving. I don’t like goal-line hand balls, but I love football more than I hate goal-line hand balls. I don’t like bad refereeing, but I love football more than I hate bad refereeing. Ultimately I don’t expect an australian phenomenon unparalleled by anything in this country other than religion and our common humanity – bend to any individual’s cultural dictate – least of all my own. Football – after all – is not soccer
Forgetmenot
Roar Pro
thats true. It brings another way of thinking about it. Yellow and Red cards are handed out for offences that are outside of the rules. Suarez deliberately commited an offence to gain an advantage. That is twisting the rules and definitely cheating.
dasilva
Guest
I'm sorry but that's rubbish It's like saying Roy Keane deliberately injuring a player wasn't cheating because he didn't seeked to deceive the referee and knew from the beginning that he would be sent off. If you deliberately break the rules then that is cheating.
Forgetmenot
Roar Pro
Good Pope. Benedict is just an interim pope. Interesting that Religious leaders all around the world (including australia) get involved in their sport. You would think that with God/s eye/s looking over them, the players would want to play to the rules.
Towser
Guest
Also the new book coming soon written by FIFA & Vatican insiders "The Da Seppblatti Code. Bound to be a best seller & box office hit.
Towser
Guest
Could be closer to the truth than you know. This ones dead but the tradition carries on:- http://www.fifa.com/aboutfifa/federation/insidefifa/news/newsid=97691.html
ilikedahoodoogurusingha
Guest
"Can you name one player smashed out of a game on purpose" Pele 1966 World Cup against Bulgaria.
Forgetmenot
Roar Pro
Could i be described as an islamic al-qaeda extremist then? With that analogy the players who cheat could then be described as the Catholic Priests. The Pope has been forced into action on these issues after being reluctant to admit it was so widespread.
Art Sapphire
Guest
mahony - I did not go to to theology class :)
Art Sapphire
Guest
Towser - as a Melburnian I tips me hat to Sydney and what they have organised.
mahony
Guest
If you understood the Catholic faith you would not draw the above analogy. You would understand that there is only one Church - and the word Catholic means "universal"...... Apart from that - you need to ask yourself, why are football fans so devout, and why is it the fastest growing Christian sect on Earth?
Towser
Guest
Not long before their here. Good initiative Sydney Festival of Football, by who?. SFC,NSW government?
Art Sapphire
Guest
LOL. Al :)
Al
Guest
I don't think Rangers supporters would like that analogy!
Art Sapphire
Guest
Barry - Here is an analogy you should understand. Football fans are like Catholics and FIFA is there Catholic Church. They know the Catholic Church is flawed and there are sinners that play the game. But, the football fans still believe and they forgive them. They get too much joy out of the game. Comprende! Now if you don't want to see any diving I suggest you attend the church of A-League services :)
JF
Guest
+1 Barry. Good post.
Barry
Guest
This is fairly typical dross from a lot of soccerl fans - if you don't like something about the game then you don't get it or don't understand it. Soccer is an enjoyable game to watch but in terms of structure and rules (not necessarily strategy) it is probably the simplest team sport in the world. I'm not criticising the game - as this simplicity is no doubt part of its universal appeal along with the fact that as long as you have a ball and something to mark the goals with you can have a game with as many or as few players as you like. Just because someone finds fault with one part of the game doesn't mean they don't understand it. Midfielder consistently talks about a handful of incidents in 84 games (it was 500 a few posts ago) but diving and injury simulation occur from minute 1 to minute 90 in every game - it's not a few isolated incidents. I really can't understand how and why any football fan can be so accepting of the diving, play acting and blatant cheating - no one is denigrating the game itself - rather the attitude of a large proportion of players to cheat at every opportunity and the tacit complicity of FIFA in allowing it to continue. Soccer fans - If you could have football with diving or without which would you choose ?
Towser
Guest
Barry as you can see I probably agree with most of your sentiments,but you are correct they make zilch difference to my support of football & obviously much of the world,because the same controversial incidents repeat themselves.FIFA does little the game continues to grow FIFA does little & so on. So the assumption that people get turned off by footballs faults is flawed. It is a view entirely derived from living in a country where football has not been traditionally numero uno. Having grown up in a country where it is & migrated I can see both sides of the fence having lived here 40 years. Despite its limited profile for most of that time until the last 6 years or so(for very explainable reasons too long for this subject) it has made zilch difference to me in terms of support. I feel no need to turn too any other sport. Reason its quite simple I understand what makes it tick. So fair play No to racism are to me nothing to do with the game for most fans at the basic level of support. Football is flawed always has been(show me anything in any area of life that isnt) but it makes no difference to its fans. If it did it would never have left England. Its the game that appeals to a worldwide audience(make up your own reason why) not the rules,the referees or indeed FIFA,pain in the backside that they are.
Art Sapphire
Guest
No forgetmenot - Pele was literally kicked out of the tournament by his opponents. Here is some footage. ttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rVEPLqms4xg
mahony
Guest
Amen brother..