Notes on the death of football

A quick post which I can use as an “I told you so” link when football dies in the future or ignore completely should football not die in the future.

As I tweeted last night about the football:

It saddens me. If the “best team in the world” have to play act like that, what hope is there for football?

What should have been a passionate, entertaining game of football between two great teams was ruined by (mainly) Barcelona’s players diving, feigning injury and trying to get opposition players sent off. I’m not saying that other clubs are any less guilty of such unsporting behaviour, but when this much-adored and obviously talented Barcalona team feel that they have to resort to such tactics, exactly where is football going?

The referee lost control of the game last night, but who can blame him when ever minor touch between players lead to a triple somersault with pike? And yes, one or two of the Madrid challenges deserved action to be taken, but one can understand (but not excuse) their frustrations when every single decision went the home side’s way.

Football needs to keep up with modern technology. FIFA’s refusal to institute goal line technology is ridiculous and has ruined many a game. Now they need to allow the reviewing of video evidence after the game for players diving and then suspend them. Either that or maybe make some more big bucks by researching, developing and marketing whatever it is that allows players like Pedro and Javier Mascherano to miraculously recover and get on with the game 5 seconds after what appears to be a career-threatening injury.

But what hope is there of video reviews when the Barca line-up last night featured Sergio Busquets, a player who just last week was caught on camera apparently, allegedly (but actually, definitely) racially insulting Marcello while trying to hide his actions behind his hand. Malice aforethought, anyone?
However, as the lack of action against him shows, there’s actually no point disguising such foul behaviour when the authorities do nothing about it anyway. It seems that the same goes for diving.

If the betting odds are anything to go by, Barca will be facing Man U at Wembley on 28th May. And despite the fact I harbour an intense dislike for both clubs, this could be the second time in my life I have supported Man U. The good news for Reds’ fans is that I have a good record at this particular activity: the only other time I did this was in the incredible 1999 Champions League Final – ironically played at the Camp Nou. Memories of a very arrogant German family in the White Horse pub in Headington, Oxford and spilling an entire pint of guest ale over Dr Kyle Knox are brought back to mind.

In the meantime, I’ll be hoping for an somewhat unlikely Schalke 04 double tonight and on the 28th.

3 thoughts on “Notes on the death of football

  1. I fully support your feelings on technology and request that it gets taken even further. Take the Chelsea match this weekend past. Chelsea “scored” twice, yet the first goal the ball never completely crossed the line (although one can argue that given the howler the Spurs keeper made it deserved a goal), and the second goal the player was ever so marginally offside. It would’ve taken a few seconds for the ref to check both goals, and make a ruling (since the ball was in the net, play was stopped so there’d be no problem with how to restart the game – free kicks on both occasions). Also, I think the idea of citing players post match is a good one (and one I’ve thought of for some time as well) – why not use the technology available to punish players blatantly cheating?

    Also, have you also noted that the higher praised the player (think Christiano Ronaldo, or even Bale from Spurs), the more readily they fall over if you look at them too hard? They’re usually pretty bloody good players (although one does wonder how long they’d have survived had they been playing against, say, Vinnie Jones), and there is really no need for any of these shenanigans.

    You could argue football is already dying. I used to watch it quite regularly, now I can’t be bothered because if I want to watch a bunch of namby pamby childish actors, I’ll watch Home Alone (or similar).

  2. I’m with you on that! Will be one of a very few rare occassions that I have actually wanted Man Utd to go on and win a game (Really can’t see Schalke getting anything tonight.. maybe it’s the final Uefa wanted after the last time they both played in the final together) I have always taken a fancy for Real Madrid, but was quite happy to admit that Barca when they are in the mood are an amazing thing to watch. Now I’m afraid I despise them on a similar level to Man Utd and Sunderland. Their play acting has led to a few sendings off this season, and last night you could just tell the ref was itching to stop Real getting through to the final. How that goal from Higuain wasn’t allowed is crazy. Ronaldo is fouled, brushes Mascherano’s studs, and the latter starts rolling round like his knee has been dislocated or something as painful.

    I really wanna see Stoke or Wolves play Barcelona on a wet windy night at the Britannia or something. That would make men out of those play acting little boys from Barca 😆

  3. “I really wanna see Stoke or Wolves play Barcelona on a wet windy night at the Britannia or something. That would make men out of those play acting little boys from Barca :lol:”

    I’d settle for Wimbledon circa 1988 or thereabouts…with a ref from that era as well…

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