Is Simulation Killing Our Game??
Is Simulation Killing our Game??
John Kosminas outburst last weekend earn t him an official reprimand from the FFA but no fine. What he was all upset about was his Captain, Ian Fyfe being sent off with minutes to go for hitting the back of Adrian Trinidad’s Head. In actual fact it was a slight tap as he wanted to take a quick free kick. The theatrics from Trinidad were ridiculous. He went down clutching his head and had treatment.
This sort of thing happens in every competition all around the world probably every weekend. Predominantly in the South American leagues, where Trinidad is from.
What the FFA and ultimately FIFA have to do is come down hard on this. The referees are being made out to look like idiots whilst the perpetrators are getting away scott free. In the case of Fyfe he has a 2 match ban.
Mark Shield told Fox Sports News that he would support retrospective action from a video review and so would other referees in Australia. Mark Shield is someone we should listen to. He was Australia’s top ref until last weekend when he retired from the game at 30 something years of age.
In fact, myself and a couple of mates were speaking to Mark Shield last year the night after he refereed the Asian Cup final between Iraq and Saudi Arabia. He had plenty of antics to deal with but was never fooled on that night. We actually spoke about this very topic. What we did agree on was that if a player was treated and had to leave the field of play, he then had to stay off the park for a set period of time. We also agreed on the retrospective review and punishment of players proven to be simulating.
Trinidad was back on the park within seconds of leaving it. If he had to sit out for 3 minutes or more I am sure he would have thought twice about simulating a fall.
The FFA already have a review policy in place and it should include simulation. They have used it to pick up a “Hand Ball” of all things. This is the biggest blight on our game, world wide. And here in Australia our other “Football” cousins can’t wait for this sort of stuff to happen.
I train with a bunch of blokes every Wednesday and Friday, they are all Rugby League or AFL followers. When I scoffed at teh Rugby League World Cup I was told very frankly that the FIFA World Cup is the Academy Awards for Diving. With incidents like last Sunday, I don’t really have an answer.
I don’t think Simulation is killing our game, but I do think it harms it. It MUST be stopped and players found guilty must be punished.
What do you think? Leave a comment
Cheers
Tezza
October 23 2008 09:01 pm | A-League
cb on 26 Oct 2008 at 5:31 pm #
Simulation is a blight on the game and it the governing bodies of the world are dragging their feet with a remedy to it… Having said that I ‘ve seen plenty of ‘milked’ penalties and free licks in rugby league and afl respectfully… which is exactly the same thing
Terry on 27 Oct 2008 at 6:59 pm #
I do agree with you there cb. It is something those sports need to address as well. I think it is more evident in Football and it is also the thing that detractors of our sport use against us.