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World Cup Comment: FIFA Must Save Role Models From Cheating Habits
The opportunity to cheat is all too easy for players as self-governance and honesty fall far behind the hunger to succeed...
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Nov 19, 2009 8:16:58 AM
Thierry Henry’s ‘hand’ in William Gallas’ all important extra-time goal was a cruel and devastating blow to the Republic of Ireland’s World Cup hopes last night. And Ireland boss Giovanni Trapattoni was less than happy after the game.
“FIFA talks about fair play a lot but doesn’t apply it. I'm sure that if the referee had asked Henry, he would have confessed that he controlled the ball with his hand. It is not the first time a referee would ask a player,” said the veteran coach.
Trapattoni’s 35-year managerial career has seen him fight on either side of the David & Goliath divide but surely even he has never seen an injustice as great as this in his entire footballing life. He was noticeably disappointed by the defeat, more by the manner of it than anything else, but his blind faith in Henry’s potential honesty raises a question about what is deemed important to professional footballers. Is it the winning or the taking part that really counts?
Publicly, he may claim his double hand ball was accidental but, in truth, Henry must privately know that his act in providing Gallas with the simplest of opportunities to seal France's, and Ireland's, fate was a shocking example of blatant cheating.
Trap may believe that Henry would have owned up to his misdemeanour, if he'd been asked, but I don’t feel that a player with a winning mentality like Henry would be capable of such a gesture of goodwill. In fact, it would go against everything that makes true winners victorious. Winners are ruthless in their pursuit of success and the highest achievers in football, like any sport, have no time for such benevolent acts. Such moments of altruism are few and far between in football, and are usually the work of something other than the merciless victor.
Henry has won everything the game has to offer and has that little something extra that winners possess, that selfish streak that bends and sometimes breaks the rules in search for success. Will Henry feel shame or self-loathing? Will he lose any sleep because the moral fibre of the majority suggests his hand ball was wrong? It’s highly unlikely. And although we may not all admit it straight away, had Robbie Keane or Kevin Doyle been the guilty party at the other end, Irish supporters would not have thought twice about the moral obligation FIFA bestows upon all it’s members to play the game in the right spirit.
The sad fact is that Thierry Henry, for all his genius over the past decade, will now join a list of so-called greats that will be remembered more for the one moment of disgrace they brought to the game, than the myriad of graceful moments with which they were previously recognised.
As an Irishman, I hold no grudge against the French. They won, these things happen but honesty, sadly, is a near extinct species in the game and the expectation for fair play must be replaced by stricter rules to combat cheats, who essentially are just normal players who will do all in their power to win.
As soon as I saw the hand ball incident, which was two clear touches, I immediately thought of one man, Rivaldo. His shameless face-clutching incident still sickens me as much as the Henry incident, even though it was my team that lost out this time around.
Rivaldo’s play acting cost Hakan Unsal dearly on that fateful day at the 2002 World Cup as the Turk was sent off, while Brazil won the game, thanks to Rivaldo’s penalty and the Selecao went on to win the tournament. FIFA’s menial fine of around 12,000 Swiss Francs for the cheat was laughable and with his World Cup medal safely in his back pocket, why would Rivaldo ever care about the morals of playing fair in that Group C game?
And Rivaldo is not the only South American to benefit from such a heinous act, as England will no doubt testify. Since that infamous ‘Hand of God’ incident 23 years ago, Maradona has been heralded as a hero, because, quite simply, his team won the tournament. Had the Argentinian’s lost the semi-final to Belgium or the final to West Germany, perhaps more scorn would have been poured on Maradona’s cheating act. It wasn’t to be and FIFA could not detract from the era’s superstar by giving him the severe punishment his act of cheating deserved.
Think about Roy Carroll too, in goal for Manchester United in January of 2005, when he clawed a clear ‘goal’ from then Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Pedro Mendes back over the line when he knew it was a legitimate goal. He too cheated but the culture of success at United would not have tolerated the Northern Irish stopper owning up to the goal. Imagine Sir Alex Ferguson’s face if he had!
Little has been made of Nicolas Anelka's dive in a coming together with Shay Given last night, simply because the penalty wasn't given, but that doesn't take anything away from the fact that the Chelsea striker tried to con the referee.
Sure, there are examples of commendable acts of fair play, most notably in recent memory from Paolo Di Canio and Robbie Fowler on duty for respective Premier League sides West Ham United and Liverpool. But these deeds are so few and far between that they are insufficient proof that the very spirit of the game FIFA claim to uphold is in tact.
FIFA expects all members to adhere to a list of ten Fair Play Golden Rules, two of which are reproduced from their website below.
(i)Winning is without value if victory has been achieved unfairly or dishonestly. Cheating is easy, but brings no pleasure. Playing fair requires courage and character. It is also more satisfying. Fair play always has its reward, even when the game is lost. Playing fair earns respect, while cheating only brings shame. Remember: it is only a game. And games are pointless unless played fairly.
(ii)Do not be ashamed to stand up to anybody who you are sure is trying to make others cheat or engage in other unacceptable behaviour. It is better to expose them and have them removed before they can do any damage. It is equally dishonest to go along with a dishonest act. Do not just say no. Denounce those misguided persons who are trying to spoil our sport before they can persuade somebody else to say yes.
Sadly, if FIFA do not start to practice what they preach, role model superstars like Henry, Rivaldo and Maradona will continue to have their sterling football reputations sullied by nothing other than a sheer will to win and, in the process, encourage the new generations of stars to break the rules in the pursuit of victory. Call it cheating, that's what it is, but as long as the opportunity presents itself, players will do it.
Henry's handball didn't warrant a mention in FIFA's report on the game on their website, which tells it's own tale on where their priorities lie and supports the notion that cheating is fine, providing you don't get caught.
Whether it be by introducing video technology, which I firmly believe is vital, banning players for ten games, or another form of stricter governance on cheating that go beyond the pitiful fines which are a drop in the ocean to players salaries, FIFA must take affirmative action, preferably sooner rather than later. Because as Henry proved last night, relying on success hungry players to self-govern on cheating simply doesn’t work.
Paul Madden, Goal.com
“FIFA talks about fair play a lot but doesn’t apply it. I'm sure that if the referee had asked Henry, he would have confessed that he controlled the ball with his hand. It is not the first time a referee would ask a player,” said the veteran coach.
Trapattoni’s 35-year managerial career has seen him fight on either side of the David & Goliath divide but surely even he has never seen an injustice as great as this in his entire footballing life. He was noticeably disappointed by the defeat, more by the manner of it than anything else, but his blind faith in Henry’s potential honesty raises a question about what is deemed important to professional footballers. Is it the winning or the taking part that really counts?
Publicly, he may claim his double hand ball was accidental but, in truth, Henry must privately know that his act in providing Gallas with the simplest of opportunities to seal France's, and Ireland's, fate was a shocking example of blatant cheating.
Trap may believe that Henry would have owned up to his misdemeanour, if he'd been asked, but I don’t feel that a player with a winning mentality like Henry would be capable of such a gesture of goodwill. In fact, it would go against everything that makes true winners victorious. Winners are ruthless in their pursuit of success and the highest achievers in football, like any sport, have no time for such benevolent acts. Such moments of altruism are few and far between in football, and are usually the work of something other than the merciless victor.
Henry has won everything the game has to offer and has that little something extra that winners possess, that selfish streak that bends and sometimes breaks the rules in search for success. Will Henry feel shame or self-loathing? Will he lose any sleep because the moral fibre of the majority suggests his hand ball was wrong? It’s highly unlikely. And although we may not all admit it straight away, had Robbie Keane or Kevin Doyle been the guilty party at the other end, Irish supporters would not have thought twice about the moral obligation FIFA bestows upon all it’s members to play the game in the right spirit.
The sad fact is that Thierry Henry, for all his genius over the past decade, will now join a list of so-called greats that will be remembered more for the one moment of disgrace they brought to the game, than the myriad of graceful moments with which they were previously recognised.
As an Irishman, I hold no grudge against the French. They won, these things happen but honesty, sadly, is a near extinct species in the game and the expectation for fair play must be replaced by stricter rules to combat cheats, who essentially are just normal players who will do all in their power to win.
As soon as I saw the hand ball incident, which was two clear touches, I immediately thought of one man, Rivaldo. His shameless face-clutching incident still sickens me as much as the Henry incident, even though it was my team that lost out this time around.
Rivaldo’s play acting cost Hakan Unsal dearly on that fateful day at the 2002 World Cup as the Turk was sent off, while Brazil won the game, thanks to Rivaldo’s penalty and the Selecao went on to win the tournament. FIFA’s menial fine of around 12,000 Swiss Francs for the cheat was laughable and with his World Cup medal safely in his back pocket, why would Rivaldo ever care about the morals of playing fair in that Group C game?
And Rivaldo is not the only South American to benefit from such a heinous act, as England will no doubt testify. Since that infamous ‘Hand of God’ incident 23 years ago, Maradona has been heralded as a hero, because, quite simply, his team won the tournament. Had the Argentinian’s lost the semi-final to Belgium or the final to West Germany, perhaps more scorn would have been poured on Maradona’s cheating act. It wasn’t to be and FIFA could not detract from the era’s superstar by giving him the severe punishment his act of cheating deserved.
Think about Roy Carroll too, in goal for Manchester United in January of 2005, when he clawed a clear ‘goal’ from then Tottenham Hotspur midfielder Pedro Mendes back over the line when he knew it was a legitimate goal. He too cheated but the culture of success at United would not have tolerated the Northern Irish stopper owning up to the goal. Imagine Sir Alex Ferguson’s face if he had!
Little has been made of Nicolas Anelka's dive in a coming together with Shay Given last night, simply because the penalty wasn't given, but that doesn't take anything away from the fact that the Chelsea striker tried to con the referee.
Sure, there are examples of commendable acts of fair play, most notably in recent memory from Paolo Di Canio and Robbie Fowler on duty for respective Premier League sides West Ham United and Liverpool. But these deeds are so few and far between that they are insufficient proof that the very spirit of the game FIFA claim to uphold is in tact.
FIFA expects all members to adhere to a list of ten Fair Play Golden Rules, two of which are reproduced from their website below.
(i)Winning is without value if victory has been achieved unfairly or dishonestly. Cheating is easy, but brings no pleasure. Playing fair requires courage and character. It is also more satisfying. Fair play always has its reward, even when the game is lost. Playing fair earns respect, while cheating only brings shame. Remember: it is only a game. And games are pointless unless played fairly.
(ii)Do not be ashamed to stand up to anybody who you are sure is trying to make others cheat or engage in other unacceptable behaviour. It is better to expose them and have them removed before they can do any damage. It is equally dishonest to go along with a dishonest act. Do not just say no. Denounce those misguided persons who are trying to spoil our sport before they can persuade somebody else to say yes.
Sadly, if FIFA do not start to practice what they preach, role model superstars like Henry, Rivaldo and Maradona will continue to have their sterling football reputations sullied by nothing other than a sheer will to win and, in the process, encourage the new generations of stars to break the rules in the pursuit of victory. Call it cheating, that's what it is, but as long as the opportunity presents itself, players will do it.
Henry's handball didn't warrant a mention in FIFA's report on the game on their website, which tells it's own tale on where their priorities lie and supports the notion that cheating is fine, providing you don't get caught.
Whether it be by introducing video technology, which I firmly believe is vital, banning players for ten games, or another form of stricter governance on cheating that go beyond the pitiful fines which are a drop in the ocean to players salaries, FIFA must take affirmative action, preferably sooner rather than later. Because as Henry proved last night, relying on success hungry players to self-govern on cheating simply doesn’t work.
Paul Madden, Goal.com
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|
| Sign up with bet365 for a free bet up to £200 |
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And with that, we're going to call it a night, folks.
We've had two tremendous matches today, so lets hope the intensity keeps up in the next clashes!
Until next time, this is LIVE commentator Stephen Crawford signing off.
From everyone here at Goal.com, thanks for joining us!
We've had two tremendous matches today, so lets hope the intensity keeps up in the next clashes!
Until next time, this is LIVE commentator Stephen Crawford signing off.
From everyone here at Goal.com, thanks for joining us!
2/15/12
All this focus on the Arsenal and Milan game should not take away from another cracker earlier tonight between Zenit and Benfica. The Russians came from a goal down to lead 2-1 in the closing minutes before Oscar Cardozo levelled things for Benfica, but it wasn't over there as Roman Shirokov won the game for Zenit in the 88th minute.
Here's the thoughts of Benfica coach Jorge Jesus, who felt his side deserved a point from the game.
Here's the thoughts of Benfica coach Jorge Jesus, who felt his side deserved a point from the game.
2/15/12
Arsenal keeper Wojciech Szczesny bemoaned his side's luck tonight but refused to give up. Here's some of his quotes:
"They were the better team on the night and that's the story of the day.
"We have to keep fighting, pick ourselves up, get the confidence back and challenge in the other competitions and in the second leg of this tie too.
"They punished us on every occasion; they scored some quality goals and they deserved to win."
Full story HERE
"They were the better team on the night and that's the story of the day.
"We have to keep fighting, pick ourselves up, get the confidence back and challenge in the other competitions and in the second leg of this tie too.
"They punished us on every occasion; they scored some quality goals and they deserved to win."
Full story HERE
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Another Milan player who was willing to share his thoughts after the match was Mark van Bommel, who has urged caution ahead of the second leg in London.
“The score made it look like it was an easy game, but it certainly wasn't.
(Strange... it looked pretty easy from where I was sitting, but hey.)
“I do not think it's over yet. I remember a clash between Milan and Deportivo la Coruna when Milan was also ahead by four goals, and in the end Deportivo eliminated Milan.
“I went into the Arsenal dressing room after the match to speak to Robin van Persie. I had agreed with him to swap shirts – my sons are big fans of his and he brought two for them. They will be delighted.
Van Bommel went on to talk about a possible move to PSV in the future, but was quick to point out his terms for the move.
“I've spoken with PSV, but we don't have an agreement yet. The club has to decide what they want.
“If Louis van Gaal turns out to be the new coach, I won't go.”
“The score made it look like it was an easy game, but it certainly wasn't.
(Strange... it looked pretty easy from where I was sitting, but hey.)
“I do not think it's over yet. I remember a clash between Milan and Deportivo la Coruna when Milan was also ahead by four goals, and in the end Deportivo eliminated Milan.
“I went into the Arsenal dressing room after the match to speak to Robin van Persie. I had agreed with him to swap shirts – my sons are big fans of his and he brought two for them. They will be delighted.
Van Bommel went on to talk about a possible move to PSV in the future, but was quick to point out his terms for the move.
“I've spoken with PSV, but we don't have an agreement yet. The club has to decide what they want.
“If Louis van Gaal turns out to be the new coach, I won't go.”
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Next up is the Milan maestro Clarence Seedorf. He only managed 12 minutes on the pitch, but watching from the sidelines he was delighted at how his team mates had dominated the game.
"Tonight everything went in the right direction and we did a very good match. You don't start a match thinking to win 4-0, but at the end i think we deserved it coz we played very well."
"Tonight everything went in the right direction and we did a very good match. You don't start a match thinking to win 4-0, but at the end i think we deserved it coz we played very well."
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