Football is RUBBISH! Sort it out

[floyd__streete]

I am sick and tired of football at the top level; the cheating and the cynicism. The following imperfections in the game absolutely need ironing out and FIFA/UEFA need to grow a pair to clean this disreputable sport up:

1) Player behaviour
The bullying and manhandling of officials cannot continue. Exacerbated by moronic pundits such as Danny Murphy defending brats such as Di Maria jostling the referee last night saying that ‘contact was minimal’. There should be no contact whatsoever. In tennis, if Andy Murray climbed the ladder to berate the Umpire he’d be disqualified. In cricket if a batsman so much as murmurs disapproval at being given out he gets fined half his match fee. In rugby the officials are mic’ed up, let us have exactly the same in football so we no longer have to lip read Wayne Rooney’s obscenities. TV companies won’t like expletives being broadcast across their airwaves and consequently the abuse – for that is what it is – will stop. While we’re talking about rugby, football should follow their example in only letting the captain discuss aspects of play with the officials. Players who fail to comply are automatically cautioned. When the suspensions kick in the offences will cease. Simple.

2) Cheating
Watford player feigning headbutt by a Wolves player at the weekend was the most contemptible thing I’ve seen all season. When it is picked up on television that player has simulated a supposed offence of violent conduct against him that player should then automatically be banned for one month. Again, when the suspensions kick in the offences will cease. Players cheating to have colleagues sent off is bad enough but the people most cheated are the spectators.

3) Review of decisions
Erroneous second cautions for players resulting in game-changing sendings off cannot be rectified afterwards the match. There is absolutely no need for this kind of double-jeopardy, I am not sure whether this is an FA rule or a UEFA/FIFA directive but it is pig-headed officious nonsense. I see no reason why clubs cannot be allowed to have an erroneous second caution wiped out so that they are not penalised twice for an incorrect decision!

4) ‘Injuries’
Players developing sudden apparently crippling injuries only to be running around like spring lambs moments later following treatment would be bad enough were it not for the unwritten and entirely useless ‘rule’ about returning the ball to the opposition following treatment. At a game I attended a fortnight ago, a home player ended up colliding with an advertising hoarding and was therefore off the pitch itself and yet the home side still put the ball out of play and uproar resulted when the away side were reluctant to return the ball. If the referee has not deemed the challenge to be a foul then the game must be allowed to continue until the side of the ‘injured’ player choose to put the ball out of play. If the injury is serious, the referee must be allowed to stop the play and a drop ball at the very least must be the chosen method of restart, it is unfair to expect the opposition to be penalised when it has been deemed that no foul play has taken place. Fail to change this culture and you actively encourage gamesmanship and time-wasting.

Many of these bug-bears surround aspects of gamesmanship and downright cheating. I do not expect for one minute that an institutionally corrupt organisation such as FIFA will do anything about it, but quite frankly these issues make the already financially lopsided game of football an even more imperfect and unfair sport.

[AthleticoSpizz]

Add to that, all of that touchy-feely slap and tickle stuff that goes on in the penalty box during set pieces. Right in front of the officials noses and normally unpunished....award a bleedin' penalty or two, send a few off, that'll teach em.

[Mr Angry]

During our game with Bradford, right at the end there was a moment where the ball hit the post from a free kick, and Akpan then did a massive air shot; on closer inspection, the TV camera's picked up that the ball had brushed Pog's hand, and were full of it "deliberate handball/lucky that it didn't go in" etc etc, yet not a single comment on how Davis was basically rugby tackling Mackie to prevent him getting to the ball.

I'm with Floyd on this; watching last night's game the amount of diving and general BS that the players exhibited was frankly an embarrassment, and its another symptom of what is wrong with football.

[Mr Angry]

And talking of "injuries", the number of times a corner kick gets cleared and a team has a break, only to be brought back because a player has a "head" injury (basically, lying on the floor holding his head); Harry Redknapp's Pompey did that ALL the time to stop an opposition attack.

Also, a player is "injured" but his team play on as they are attacking; their attack break's down - and they DEMAND that the opposition kick the ball out so their player can get treatment!! Eh???? if you were so concerned, why didn't YOU kick it out??

[SPARTA]

Not just the Prem, but the game in general, and then all the off-field shenanigans these days. I've been to one game this season (opening day) and not missed it at all, neither have I seen one football league highlights or MoTD. Previous to this season I've hardly missed a home game stretching back to 1994, and always do a few away games a season, but I just don't enjoy going any more. Our home 'matchday experience' doesn't help, but largely I've just fallen out of love with the game. I would have been nervously phoning for a ticket for Bradford away a year or two ago, but I didn't even bother watching more than 25 minutes of the game on the telly, and I'm not fussed about the replay. It actually pains me to feel like this, because for a long time the club and the game were a huge part of my life, but not any more. The interest in RFC remains, but I can't say when or if the bug will ever come back. I hope it does, but I don't miss what was once my biggest addiction. Sadly I know a lot of long-time supporters who feel exactly the same.

[Ark Royal]

Not just the Prem, but the game in general, and then all the off-field shenanigans these days. I've been to one game this season (opening day) and not missed it at all, neither have I seen one football league highlights or MoTD. Previous to this season I've hardly missed a home game stretching back to 1994, and always do a few away games a season, but I just don't enjoy going any more. Our home 'matchday experience' doesn't help, but largely I've just fallen out of love with the game. I would have been nervously phoning for a ticket for Bradford away a year or two ago, but I didn't even bother watching more than 25 minutes of the game on the telly, and I'm not fussed about the replay. It actually pains me to feel like this, because for a long time the club and the game were a huge part of my life, but not any more. The interest in RFC remains, but I can't say when or if the bug will ever come back. I hope it does, but I don't miss what was once my biggest addiction. Sadly I know a lot of long-time supporters who feel exactly the same.

Absolutely +1 ^this. Great post, Sparta and I echo every sentiment along with Floyd's original post. I think the game has turned rotten at the top (FIFA) and that particular maggot is eating its way through the rest of the game; and I have really have grown to viscerally hate the Premier League for the greed and avarice that it stands for.

[Ouroboros]

Floyd, for someone who continually bemoans the modern culture of outrage, you don't half spend a lot of your time being outraged.

[Handsome Man]

I am sick and tired of football at the top level; the cheating and the cynicism. The following imperfections in the game absolutely need ironing out and FIFA/UEFA need to grow a pair to clean this disreputable sport up:

1) Player behaviour
The bullying and manhandling of officials cannot continue. Exacerbated by moronic pundits such as Danny Murphy defending brats such as Di Maria jostling the referee last night saying that ‘contact was minimal’. There should be no contact whatsoever. In tennis, if Andy Murray climbed the ladder to berate the Umpire he’d be disqualified. In cricket if a batsman so much as murmurs disapproval at being given out he gets fined half his match fee. In rugby the officials are mic’ed up, let us have exactly the same in football so we no longer have to lip read Wayne Rooney’s obscenities. TV companies won’t like expletives being broadcast across their airwaves and consequently the abuse – for that is what it is – will stop. While we’re talking about rugby, football should follow their example in only letting the captain discuss aspects of play with the officials. Players who fail to comply are automatically cautioned. When the suspensions kick in the offences will cease. Simple.

2) Cheating
Watford player feigning headbutt by a Wolves player at the weekend was the most contemptible thing I’ve seen all season. When it is picked up on television that player has simulated a supposed offence of violent conduct against him that player should then automatically be banned for one month. Again, when the suspensions kick in the offences will cease. Players cheating to have colleagues sent off is bad enough but the people most cheated are the spectators.

3) Review of decisions
Erroneous second cautions for players resulting in game-changing sendings off cannot be rectified afterwards the match. There is absolutely no need for this kind of double-jeopardy, I am not sure whether this is an FA rule or a UEFA/FIFA directive but it is pig-headed officious nonsense. I see no reason why clubs cannot be allowed to have an erroneous second caution wiped out so that they are not penalised twice for an incorrect decision!

4) ‘Injuries’
Players developing sudden apparently crippling injuries only to be running around like spring lambs moments later following treatment would be bad enough were it not for the unwritten and entirely useless ‘rule’ about returning the ball to the opposition following treatment. At a game I attended a fortnight ago, a home player ended up colliding with an advertising hoarding and was therefore off the pitch itself and yet the home side still put the ball out of play and uproar resulted when the away side were reluctant to return the ball. If the referee has not deemed the challenge to be a foul then the game must be allowed to continue until the side of the ‘injured’ player choose to put the ball out of play. If the injury is serious, the referee must be allowed to stop the play and a drop ball at the very least must be the chosen method of restart, it is unfair to expect the opposition to be penalised when it has been deemed that no foul play has taken place. Fail to change this culture and you actively encourage gamesmanship and time-wasting.

Many of these bug-bears surround aspects of gamesmanship and downright cheating. I do not expect for one minute that an institutionally corrupt organisation such as FIFA will do anything about it, but quite frankly these issues make the already financially lopsided game of football an even more imperfect and unfair sport.

That's all obvious though? Why bother to write it all down. Strange timing as well, as that was a brilliant game yesterday.

[No Fixed Abode]

Half and half scarves should be outlawed.

Having people such as Dermot O'Leary doing the FA Cup draw should be outlawed.

Selling another teams kit in your clubs shop should be outlawed (City sold Barca shirts prior to the game at the Etihad).

[TBM]

Having people such as Dermot O'Leary doing the FA Cup draw should be outlawed.

tbf he was only doing it to help raise awareness for his comic relief thingy - knowing full well millions would be watching

[Vision]

Having people such as Dermot O'Leary doing the FA Cup draw should be outlawed.

tbf he was only doing it to help raise awareness for his comic relief thingy - knowing full well millions would be watching

Also he's a Liverpool supporter really but John Bishop wasn't available and the BBC told him to keep schtum so as not to be accused of bias.

[TBM]

[Sutekh]

Well said Floyd, next step is how do we, the fans, get the powers that be to take any notice.

Also you can add to that the fact no-ones allowed to tackle any more thus that side of the game is not getting properly coached, if at all, and so risking many more injuries and stupid decisions because people don't understand that side. All stems from FIFA thinking everyone wants to see people dribbling everywhere and doing nice tippy tappy passing (yawn) and so stuff the art of defending.

Finally the other one is leave the sodding offside law alone. If a players in an offside position then it's offside full stop. Let's have no more of this inconsistent flagging from linesmen and having to decide is said player moving to the ball, has he touched it etc.

[No Fixed Abode]

Having people such as Dermot O'Leary doing the FA Cup draw should be outlawed.

tbf he was only doing it to help raise awareness for his comic relief thingy - knowing full well millions would be watching

Nothing wrong in raising awareness but that's what the One Show is for.

[TBM]

Having people such as Dermot O'Leary doing the FA Cup draw should be outlawed.

tbf he was only doing it to help raise awareness for his comic relief thingy - knowing full well millions would be watching

Nothing wrong in raising awareness but that's what the One Show is for.

They had the 5th round FA Cup draw on the one show - so maybe they were doing a trade off

[sandman]

Might be imagining it but didn't the One Show broadcast from Liverpool once? Or maybe Giles Brandreth was sent there. Either way it just illustrates even more the LOLiverpool bias emanating from every orifice of old Auntie Beeb.

[No Fixed Abode]

Might be imagining it but didn't the One Show broadcast from Liverpool once? Or maybe Giles Brandreth was sent there. Either way it just illustrates even more the LOLiverpool bias emanating from every orifice of old Auntie Beeb.

I don't know about that but we had to endure Danny Murphy commentating on the United v Arsenal game last night. He wasn't slightly biased towards Arsenal at all.

[Angry Shed Sex]

Half and half scarves should be outlawed.

22,000 posts and finally something we can both agree on.

It's not often I see a thread and I agree with almost every person on it.

I'm not quite as bad as Sparta but I'm definitely going that way.

Basically I often detest watching a bunch of tattoed stupid haircutted, multi coloured boot wearing cunts that have no allegiance or empathy with either the team they play for or game I love.

Make them all do national service and go to a barbers.

[tmesis]

2) Cheating
Watford player feigning headbutt by a Wolves player at the weekend was the most contemptible thing I’ve seen all season.

One thing that really gets me is that if somebody goes down holding their hands over their face, then you know for a fact they are faking it. It's a completely unnatural reaction, so why do referees fall for it every single time?

[Jinx]

Agree with everything in the original post.

Chelsea v PSG tonight is a stunning example of it all