The reason why Association Football (soccer) is so popular is the injustice of it. Of all major games played in the world it is the game where the best team is least likely to win. Every spectator can walk away from a game convinced that they were robbed by the referee, the linesman, the weather, the ball, and any other conspiracy theories. England were famously ROBBED of a win in the days of goal posts being made of rectangular pieces of wood, a round post would have put the ball in the net. No one likes the play acting, but it works and gets decisions, like the goal against Manchester United ruled out by the video referee for a foul in the build up. If a goal hadnt resulted no one would say it was a foul. There you see, injustice and a pro Man U conspiracy theory. Leicester fans will dine out on that for at least 2 weeks. Most is to do with it being a professional sport with millions at stake on a game. In the formative years of football, the "Corinthians" who put sporting fair play above all things, didnt believe in the concept of a penalty kick. To award a penalty for a deliberate foulI enjoy football (soccer for the American readers) and played it socially with friends in my teenaged years. Like most kids of my generation (well, boys anyway) I spent most of my time with baseball in the summer and hockey in the winter. Like most Scots and Irish (I'm both), I enjoy contact sports followed by a few pints or drams.
Given that scenario, I have always been baffled by two apparently well practiced, and sanctioned, plays in football:
1. the constant waving of the hands in the air, presumably to get the referee's attention in an attempt to make sure he hasn't forgotten you, and
2. the violent throwing of ones-self to the ground as if poleaxed by an opponent who is now at least four strides away from you, and thrashing around violently while holding ones hands to ones face.
This is not a whinge or gripe about two incidents (that I happened to witness) during Canada's journey to qualification - we not only got there, but ended up first in our division, so who gives a wee.....! However, I am dying to know what causes a man, a finely tuned athlete, to behave like a five year old kid (my apologies to the 5 years olds of the world) during one of the most important athletic tournaments on the planet?
beannachd leat
Good luck to all
was a serious slur on a mans character. The Corinthians was a London club but popularised the game around the world and present day Brazilian side FC Corinthians Paulista are named after them.