Of all the sports that I have taken part in, and it adds up to about 10, I can’t think of another where the contestants so regularly cheat. What I mean by cheating is deliberately breaking the rules of the game.
Some might be termed minor cheating. Take for instance throw-ins. The rules (or Laws as the game calls them} quite clearly state it must be taken ‘from the point that the ball left the field of play’. However, this is consistently disregarded, and players will sometimes throw-in at least 10 yards nearer their opponents goal line. Attempting a longer throw, the so-called modern throw-in where the thrower has one hand behind the ball and one alongside as a sort of guide, whereas the law says that both hands must be behind the ball.
Then we have of course the free kick. How many times do we see players attempt to take the kick nearer the opponents goal than the offence took place. The ‘wall’ for kicks just outside the penalty area is to stop players taking free kicks nearer their opponents goal as well as ensuring that the defending players retire the requisite ten yards. In other areas of the pitch we so often witness players standing in front of the ball to prevent their opponents from taking a quick free kick. The Laws say that this is a
cautionable (Yellow Card) offence but that doesn’t deter many.
Yellow cards are more often shown, when players slow or stop opponents by holding the back of their shirt, usually when they are running towards their goal. I remember an international footballer telling a meeting of referees, ‘It’s called ‘taking one for the team’.
Then we have the Law of trying to deceive the referee by feigning injury or pretending to have been fouled. A classic recent example of this was when Ben Brereton Dias of Southampton, pushed over Newcastle’s Fabian Schar from behind as they followed the ball. As they rose to their feet the enraged Schar, moved his head towards Dias. The camera didn’t show whether there was any contact, but it was minable at the most. Dias however went down holding his face as if he had been struck by a pole axe,
Although it was plainly an outrageous false act, Schar was sent off. Southampton’s head coach, Russell Martin, did not condemn Dias, instead he said he would expect all players to take advantage of any such opportunity and to do the same.
Do I need to ask why players cheat?
By Dick Sawdon Smith
