There is something about association football that is very appealing. The game is played by over 250 million players in over 200 nations and has the highest television audience in sport. What is it that makes football so popular? Has it still got its sporting spirit?
Unfair play
I’m familiar with football in England 24hscore both on television and from the stands.
Some maintain that unfair play is spoiling the game. Pundits speak of the so-called ‘tactical foul’ as if it were acceptable. As if taking an unfair advantage is okay. Yet, doesn’t cheating undermine fair play?
We hear of the ‘professional foul’ as when it is said with approval ‘He took one for the team’ for an unfair advantage perhaps stopping a dangerous attack on goal. His offence resulted in a yellow card from the referee.
Likewise, ‘diving’ can be blatant. More difficult to referee is the player who goes down unnecessarily when there is any sort of physical contact with the tackler. This is more common. When a player is apparently injured only to get up a bit later and immediately run at full pelt up the field, fans get very indignant. This is because feigning injury occurs in order to cause a stop in play and give team mates a breather or encourages the referee to blandish a red card sending off the opposing player from the field.
Some argue an attitude of ‘winning at all costs’ sometimes develops and this is killing the spirit of the game e.g. hand-balling the ball into the net. Better to enjoy football for its own sake rather than believing that the only thing that matters is whether we win or lose.
Being a bad loser damages sporting spirit
It’s good to see opposing players and coaches shake hands after a game with both teams congratulating the other for their efforts. Likewise, the crowd claps when a player kicks the ball out of play if a player on the opposing side is hurt so he can get help.
However, bad losers come up with petty complaints about all sorts of things. When winning at all costs rules our hearts, then we will feel really fed up after a loss. Disgruntled with the referee, the substitutions, the bad luck.
But maybe the opposing team deserved to win in all honesty. They didn’t cheat but showed good skill and effort. How many times have you accepted ‘Yes we were we out-played, out-thought, out-run and out-fought: the better team won.’ Everyone is drawn to those who seem honest and fair. Even children know what fairness is and are most upset when cheating takes place.
Verbal abuse in football
Football is only a game. But being hidden in a crowd some individuals want to be verbally abusive. They openly express hostility directed at players of the opposing team, the match officials, or people of a different race to their own. Some fans have been known even to abuse their own players who have made mistakes.