Some good and interesting perspectives in here.
I suppose at the end of the day, the old fashioned sport of football has been ragged apart from all angles now. Apart from one remaining tatter. And that's the officiating of the game isn't it?
I don't know. My philosophy on football comes from Shanks. Be invincible. People can cheat all they like but they won't beat you. Isn't that the way football should be? Rather than clouding the game with judgments?
If video refereeing comes into play, it will open the door for other pathetic decisions. I'd rather just keep the game as simple as it is. That's just my opinion.
I agree with "Be Invincible"...If Ireland had scored 3 goals instead of 1 the cheating would not of been an Issue. However, it happened.
I am certainly of the minority on this forum, But, I dont
want Liverpool to build a new stadium. I want their to be old tradition in sports. But I also know that Liverpool MUST build a new stadium to survive. I HATE that they tore down Yankee Stadium. Thats hallowed ground. Not just for Baseball or American Sports, but as a symbol that their are no more traditions to respect in sports. They tore it down for a Newer Stadium with a bigger scoreboard and more expensive seats. Anyone watch a Yankee game this year? Did you wonder why the seats down by the field were ALWAYS empty? Because the Yankees made them $260,000 a season seats. Each seat! Not only that they separated the seats with a concrete "Moat" so the normal fan cannot go down to the field before the game for autographs. A tradition in American Baseball for 100 years. Now you can "Buy" your autographs at the Yankee store.
I look at all sports as a game, because thats all they are. But those days of "simple" are gone and past. When the amount of money that is generated by Sports revenues and the "Business" of sport surpasses the GNP of some Western Countries, then it becomes regulated and ruled by law.
50 years ago Thierry Henry would of looked at the ref and said " I touched it with my hand", the goal would not of been allowed and the men would of continued the game. I guess its sad that, it didn't happen that way but thats how it is.
I used to think that sport could define a person or a Nation. That the integrity and the honor which athletes shared was unique. It used to be that if a player fell to the ground an opposing player would lend a hand and raise him up, now were just as likely to see the player step on his head or face instead of helping him up.
I get incensed at the loss of respect. Its still their, but its under the surface now instead of the top. When a player openly cheats and knows it, and then continues to celebrate his "accomplishment" it pisses me off. With the money involved their is so much more at stake and the thought of disrespecting the game and cheating doesn't even weigh on the minds of some of today's players.
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