Reason #6725 why soccer is the best sport

Agree, Fulhamfaninms. I would be interested in knowing who those great players are. I know I'm impressed all the time by how hard most players work but the flopping can be embarassing when your with non enthusiasts not to mention my own personal annoyance.

The one thing I have told people before ( I dont know if this is true; I just think it makes sense) is that there is only one official on the field and it is extremely hard for him to get all the calls right. It probably only takes a player having a great opportunity taken away by an uncalled foul once or twice before they start feigning injury. The situation grows from there.

Additionally, the players probably learn this at a lower level when the officiating isnt as good.

 

I saw a map of Italy this afternoon and fell down. Must be a subconscious thing.

I'm also fairly new to int'l football, but why don't they use two officials (one in each half of the pitch)? The game is so much faster now, it would seem like a logical progression. At least on the highest levels/tournaments if nothing else.

 

totally agree with the 2 ref thing Ag!!!

 

If they're only responsible for their own end, that would make that moot. The offsides idea is good, but doesn't address the diving aspect. Or do the sideline officials have responsibility (or the ability to confer with the on-field official) about that?

 

My concerns with two on-field officials is that for me the one already gets in the way too much as it is and and I'm afraid it would be hard to find twice as many good officials. I'd rather have one good official than two bad officials (or one of each).

I think the only way to address flopping, is to punish it. I thought last year the officials in the EPL said they were going to crack down on it, but I imagine it's a difficult call to make. I did see some make it though and it was great.

Also, while I'd rather a player stay on his feet whenever possible, it's easy to understand why they would try to get the foul called. The thing that is most annoying is when they're writhing in pain for nothing. Or when they do it for nothing at a crucial point in the game for advantage. It appears the English fans dont like it but I'm not sure how the other European fans feel. Anyone know. Do Italians hate it when a player is faking excruciating injury?

 

My thing is i hate to have this argument....Soccer is the best sport, Football is the best sport, Baseball is the best sport ect.... Honestly i love most all sports and play most of them too and I just need a better argument to those close-minded folks who think that Soccer is for gay communists.

 

Speaking about the two refs for footie...The NBA game surely was enhanced when they went to 3 refs... :roll: While I think there needs be improvements on the goal line (be it a sensor or whatever) I don't watch sports to see the refs blow their whistles.

 

The two that for me leap off the page are...

Terry Butcher - the photo on the link is one of the most iconic in English football.

http://www.englandcaps.co.uk/TerryButcher.html

During the vital match in Sweden Butcher suffered a deep cut in his head that was temporarily stitched up by the England physio. Heavily bandaged, he insisted on returning to the pitch and did not stop heading the ball, which re-opened the wound. As he came off at the end of the match, with the all-important draw secured, his face, bandages and shirt were red with blood.

Bert Trautmann - A german POW that signed with Man City after the war.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bert_Trautmann

Trautmann entered football folklore with his performance in the 1956 FA Cup Final. With 15 minutes of the match remaining Trautmann suffered serious injury after diving at the feet of Birmingham City's Peter Murphy. Despite his injury he continued to play, making crucial saves to preserve his team's 3–1 lead. His neck was noticeably crooked as he collected his winners' medal; three days later an X-ray revealed it to be broken.

 

Okay so what would you say to giving more authority to linesman who can see what the ref can not?

 

Linos have a lot of power, it is up to the ref how much he lets them use it.

I would say that the a ref does a fairly good job 99% of the time. The job is made much more difficult by players simulating injury and by the haranging of the ref.

I would rather see the autorities bring heavy punishment for diving. Most pundits who are ex-players know the difference between a dive, a minor knock and a genuine foul. If a panel existed that reviewed incidents from the weekend and handed out 3 match bans then we would see diving go away. I would also like to see only the captain may address the referee and that he has to address him as "Sir". Any other player that addresses the referee should be delt with by the way of caution - or perhase sin-binning.

We also need to weed out the poor refs and clear up the interpretation of the off side rule - damned if I know how it actually works now-a-days.

Someone said earlier that they thought players learned diving in the lower divisions,I would heartily disagree - the refs miss much more lower down and skillful players get lumps kicked out of them. A diver will very quicky get a shoeing from a donkey centre back if he simulates.

That's my two pence.

 

GBFC....i love your two pence....spot on.