da betsul： From the 3 to 7 September 2010, FIFA held its Fair Play Days, for the 14th time. The annual event that encourages fair play, discipline and respect on and off the pitch, coincided with the International match days. “I expect players, officials and fans to set a perfect example of fair play” explained FIFA President Sepp Blatter.
da brdice： Following my latest Sunday roast, I settled down to watch a mouthwatering afternoon of football. Manchester United V Liverpool. Chelsea V Blackpool. And Athletico Madrid V Barcelona. Unfortunately, it wasn’t so much Rooney’s, Drogba’s and Messi’s football ability that attracted my attention.
During the second half of the Manchester United match, Nani decided to perform two poetic dives. One of which was in the box, aiming to win a penalty, and the other indefinitely halted a promising Liverpool attack. Hardly an example of fair play towards players, officials and fans, from such a talented footballer. Don’t get me wrong, I know he’s not the first, and he certainly won’t be the last.
Was Nani booked? No. Was he punished after the game? No. So where exactly does this leave Sepp Blatter and his comments?
For a moment, the mesmerizing football of Barcelona took my mind off Nani’s actions. Lionel Messi was elegantly running rings around defenders, as he does almost every week. Right up until another incident of note. In the 92nd minute, Tomas Ujfalusi took it upon himself to blatantly kick the World Player of the Year out of the game. A straight red was awarded for Ujfalusi, and an ankle injury to Messi. Again, a kick in the teeth to Blatter’s respect campaign.
All this before I have even mentioned Lee Bowyer’s argument with a fan, Arsene Wenger’s choice of words towards the fourth official, or Marouane Fellaini’s elbow purposely being hurled in the direction of Mike Williamson’s head. And that’s just this weekend.
So considering the above-mentioned events, you would expect FIFA to step in, on the grounds of disrespect. Nothing. Not a peep from FIFA on any incident. So can somebody please tell me the point in the respect campaign? If nobody adheres to it, then why bother continuing?
Personally, I think the respect campaigns are a superb idea, as long as they’re acted upon. At the moment, the campaign just seems to go as far as a ‘respect’ armband on the referee, and a handshake before the match. Once on the pitch, it appears irrelevant. Address it or ditch it please, Mr Blatter.