iSporter Dr. Chaitanya Sridhar shares a different perspective on the on-going FIFA World Cup 2010. Player's are shamefully 'acting' their way out of the game. A MUST READ for all Football fans on iSport!
Remember Shakespeare's quote, "All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players (read actors)". Undoubtedly, Footballers suit this axiom with their Supreme 'Acting Skills'. So, don't hold your breath the next time you see a Football Star 'fall', remember he could only be faking it or more precisely 'play-acting'. In addition to Vuvuzelas and Jabulanis, this World Cup is in danger of being remembered for shameful play-acting.
Looks like we have the current incarnation of modern-day 'cheating' in football. Guess it could be called Generation Y(outh)'s version of 'gamesmanship'. This basically involves the feigning of serious injury where in reality there was barely any contact. In cases where contact actually existed, it usually isn't even in the area indicated by the offending player.
Is this fair play or even Sport? Doesn't it the beat the spirit of the game? No wonder Mahesh Bhupathi suggested we bring these great football actors to Bollywood! Every team intends to win and is looking for an opportunity to score but is this kind of behavior acceptable?
It's disheartening to see many a stars employing 'simulation' as a strategy to gain an edge or favor. It seems like the sole aim of sport has been reduced to 'winning at all cost'. A World Cup has again been brought into disrepute by bad play-acting.
The great diving act performed by the Ivory Coast Forward Abdul Kader Keita against Brazil is a prime example of 'play acting'. This act of diving, feigning injury, flopping and falling is a deliberate act of duping or cheating the referee for a free kick or penalty kick.
In the above example, Keita's deliberate act (which was later realized) brought a yellow card [his second] to Brazil's Kaka, causing his expulsion. One can only feel sorry for Kaka and hope such 'Referee errors' are reduced. FIFA must punish play-actors like Keita for deliberate deceiving against play-makers like Kaka.
Also, due to consistent 'play-acting', Referees may tend to oversee when a player has been genuinely fouled or injured. German midfielder Mesut Ozil was punished with a yellow card for tumbling to the ground. Why was he punished when he really has been fouled by the Australian defender who escaped any punishment?
"The player who commits the foul escapes the yellow card, I have to congratulate him for that," the Brazil coach said after Kaka's expulsion. He went on to conclude: "We have to know what is good football and what is not. So when the referee allows certain fouls or certain incidents to go unpunished that is not right."
I don't understand how this trend started and why it continues to grow at an alarming pace? This kind of behavior is a defense-mechanism of the 'weak minded' who don't believe in their prowess and skills. Why is Football embracing this 'unsportsmanlike' approach?
Its high time FIFA considers this issue in earnest and probably adopts a 'third umpire system akin to cricket' to avoid such unwanted 'play-act' happenings. It would be wonderful to watch 90 minute football games not plagued by shouts every second and third minute by some over-paid actor rolling on the ground holding his face or leg!
According to FIFA Rules of the Game, attempts to deceive the referee by feigning injury or pretending to be fouled are punishable by a yellow card. But the fast-pace of the game makes it difficult for the Referee to adjudge a player guilty for acting. Moreover, let's not forget that the supreme acting skills of these multi-skilled champions could fool anyone. If it wasn't for video cameras, the guilty would escape scot free on many occasions.
One may recall in the 2002 tournament, the infamous 'play-act' by Brazil's star forward Rivaldo, feigning injury due to Turkey's Hankan Unsal's kick. As a result, Unsal was given a red card signaling his expulsion from the match. Later video replays showed Rivaldo reaction was an 'act' much to his own embarrassment, and was rightly fined.
Rivaldo in fact admitted to the media after the Turkey game that he deliberately tried to get Unsal sent off. Unsal was sadly the victim of Rivaldo's superb acting. The World Cup is usually the pinnacle of every player's dream and the last thing you'd want is to be tagged with 'cheating for acting', a label that might be hard to erase.
Furthermore, expulsion of key players due to 'play acting' might cost teams a match. This 'play-acting' has become a tool to oust skilled players from the matches. Unfortunately, as long as there continues to be no serious ramifications, the lack of disciplinary measures in such situations will only encourage players to continue play-acting.
Success ought to be earned but not at the expense of another player or team. Also, 'play-acting' is sending a negative and wrong message to youngsters looking up to their football icons.
We all have our favorites and want them to play in good spirit. It was a shock to witness French Captain Zinedine Zidane 'head-butting' Italy's Marco Materazzi in the 2006 World Cup. His glorious career ended in a red card. Zidane had ruined his image as an "icon of world football" and a model for the young by losing his temper.
Why hasn't FIFA considered introducing 'video referees' when most other professional sports such as tennis and cricket have adopted 'hawkeye'? The referee should be able to refer a decision if he's not sure, and/or each team should have 2 challenges to refereeing decisions (if their challenge is justified then they keep their 2 challenges, but if they are not, then they lose 1).
That should sort out the cheats and will stop the players crowding the referee and complaining at every decision. This would also lessen Referee's burden, reduce errors and ensure smooth play.
Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo's comment on the matter is ample food for thought for FIFA authorities, "Referees should protect the more skillful players when they're getting fouled [deliberately] by the opposition".
Kaka also echoed similar sentiments after his red card expulsion due to the Ivory Coast Forwards 'acting'. Hopefully, this issue is dealt with iron hands to ensure fair play and sportsmanship. Waka Waka- this time for Africa!
Dr. Chaitanya Sridhar is a reputed sports psychologist who practices out of Bengaluru. She writes extensively on www.isport.in
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a guest
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... This is a very relevant article about a relevant aspect in our lives. Whats going on in Football can be extrapolated in many other areas too. However, sticking to the area of sports and more so Football, one musnt forget that 4 years ago the then World Champions (Italy) relied heavily on this tactic, as undeniably the rewards were for everyone to see and emulate. Hence its no surprise that everyone has left Italy behind this time beating them at their own game. Unfortunately, the pressure on winning comes from many sides, and when a player is told by his coach to feign an injury, he has to do it for his 'country' and 'team-mates' even if he doesnt think its right. Taking a personal stand against this can easily prove to be Professional Suicide. The 'Digital Umpire' has always been resisted by purists of all games, but with time people have grown comfortable with the idea that rewards should be given to the Meritorious and not the Notorious! Dr. Persy Shroff |
Chaitanya Sridhar
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... Dr. Shroff, very good point on the 'pressure to confirm' for the sole purpose of winning. Hopefully, FIFA doesn't sit quiet yet again on this issue! |
a guest
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... This is an aptly brought up issue... During the Portugal vs Spain round of 16 match, i noticed the Referee allowed play to go on, on many occasions when other referees would have blown the whistle and stopped the flow of the game for silly non existent fouls and as you mentioned "feigning injury" which was refreshing to see, i have to say.. But on one or two occasions the Argentinian Referee did make a few mistakes- one was when C. Ronaldo was fouled n the referee deemed he dived n let play go on, n the other was a Harsh Red Card to Portugal's R. Costa, again for what i felt was over-reacting by the Spainish defender. Players by now know that Referees have a poor reputation on C.Ronaldo, that he is a Diver, n thus opposing players purposely foul Him, coz they know that they can get away with it.. FIFA must also ask themselves whether spending 10-20 secs on Bringing Video Evidence- Goal line technology/ Hawk-eye and thus, FAIR PLAY is Important than solely winning a match at ANY cost. Thank you, Robin Ananda |
a guest
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... FIFA jus refuses to grow with technology! But at the same time the charm,spice and adrenaline rush is lost if cameras etc come into play to over rule the ref! Who will the players swarm for a wrong decision? Why would the hooligans riot if not? Why would we say....maaan...nooooo...shucks!!! Office discussions would get sour!!! :-)but yeah everythin has its ups and downs! |
a guest
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... I agree to the article that the players do act especially inside the box, when they think they can get away with it. I heard the spokesperson of FIFA after the England Match & he said that they are not in a state to comment on the field referee's decision. I guess FIFA has not agreed to the mistakes made by referees. There is pressure to use the video technology after the bad decisions given on field. Argentina give a goal which was clearly offside & England losing a world cup goal which could have made the difference in the second half. Lets hope that FIFA learns, and in the future matches we could see video-tech being used. Senthil Kumar Oman |
Chaitanya Sridhar
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... Interesting comments. Thank you all. Please continue participating - much appreciated! |
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