The concluding day of the first round of matches at the FIFA World Cup saw a team being eliminated from the competition for the first time in its history, on its disciplinary record.
Senegal, the last of the African teams remaining, bowed out owing to the higher number of yellow cards collected over the group stage. It also led to a farcical final ten minutes in the other encounter of a tough Group H, as Japan and Poland played a ridiculously passive game to earn a result that was convenient for both teams.
The ‘fair play’ rule states that accumulated red and yellow cards will decide progress to the knockout stage if teams finished with identical records – points, goal difference and goals scored.
The irony couldn’t be starker – Poland and Japan, the lone Asian team to go through to the next round, did not prove themselves worthy of upholding the spirit of the game. As news flashed in the stadium of the goal scored by Colombia’s Yerry Mina 400 miles away, both teams seamed to settle for a 1-0 win for Poland.
Japan’s Takuma Asano ( The Yomiuri Shimbun via AP Images )
The scoreline allowed Poland to claim its first victory in the tournament and more importantly, enabled Japan to progress to round of 16 at the expense of Senegal, for the first time since 2002 when they were co-hosts. The strategy wasn’t without risk though; Japan could have been on the flight back home if Senegal had managed to equalise in the final minutes.
It also negated the thought behind FIFA’s idea of scheduling the final group matches simultaneously. Akira Nishino, Japan’s manager, who had ordered his team to “stay put”, expressed regret and unhappiness in his team’s approach.
“It was a very tough decision, of course,” Nishino said. “We conceded a goal, but with the time passing the other match moved (when Colombia scored). When I put on [Makoto] Hasebe (who came on as a late substitute), I told him what was in my mind: ‘Do not go for any high risks.’ I told him not to concede any yellow cards, go 4-1-4-1, defensive, and then I told him to tell the team to ‘stay put’. We could not concede another goal. So with the time passing it was my decision to stay put, and then when I used Hasebe, it was the ultimate message.”
Aliou Cissé, the Senegal coach, who was at the receiving end, was magnanimous. “This is the law of the game,” Cissé said.
“We have not qualified because we did not deserve it. This is life. We have a number of rules which have been established and we have to respect that. We are fully committed and maybe because we are so committed, we get more yellow cards.”
And maybe, it’s time for FIFA to reconsider the not-so-fair play provision.
Kris
Guest
And we have seen group position (not elimination) decided by this method before so it didn't sneak up on anyone. At least this way there is a (small) incentive for teams not to foul and take guys out - so that encourages everyone to stand up and let the playmakers have a bit more space.
Eamon Stocker
Roar Rookie
But surely anything is better and more fair than 'fair play'? It isn't as if this is a common occurrence, just a tiebreaker to prevent teams being knocked out for simply being assertive. Plus, FIFA are revising the rankings system, so in 4 years time it should be far more representative of non-European teams.
Marc
Guest
They could count corners and then free kicks if goal difference s even.
marron
Guest
The rankings are highly dubious and can be (and are) gamed. The beauty of football is that the better team on paper is no guarantee. If we're going to use rankings to decide who "deserves" to go through, why not just hand the cup to the no 1 team? Deciding things by virtue of what happens on the pitch is the best way. But no matter what aspects are introduced, situations like the other night will always arise. Japan took a massive risk by doing so. It paid off, this time - but it just as easily could have backfired.
Eamon Stocker
Roar Rookie
Wouldn't a better solution be to use FIFA's rankings?
Mitcher
Guest
We all have our opinions and genuine respect to you for penning an article on yours. But these were the defined rules pre tournament. Did you raise any concerns in the lead up? If not, this just seems like hollow complaining about a situation you have decided you didn’t like. To have a pop at Japan for doing exactly what was in their best intersect to qualify for the next round (every teams only objective), is bizarre. Be assured if they’d done the opposite and conceded they’d be pilloried for naivety.
Kangas
Roar Rookie
Paper scissor rock Or maybe some mma or have a virtual penalty shootout
Wayne
Roar Guru
Like scoring more goals or win more games than opposition and qualify that way? There needs to be a tie breaker for when points and goal difference fail to break it.
Kangas
Roar Rookie
France and Denmark played 90 minutes in a contrived draw , I think that’s more dodgy , in the end it didn’t matter . I think the fair play rule is more valid then any other solution, which would be a coin toss .