Comments on: Fair Play Award: Costin Lazar Refuses A Penalty.

By: mick

mick — Mon, 11 May 2009 12:40:51 +0000

can we forward this to drogba and ronaldo?

By: Wazdog

Wazdog — Thu, 16 Apr 2009 10:33:15 +0000

^ Do I commit theft when I steal a car or when I’m caught? Just because I could get away with it doesn’t mean I should.

By: Scott

Scott — Sat, 04 Apr 2009 17:51:46 +0000

Thanks tom, someone actually realizes how the game REALLY works. And A Ref I was actually wondering the same thing at a later time, thats how it works when a ref has final say, the rules are FLEXIBLE which leads me to the point.

“Faking to be fouled, diving, play acting and so forth is simply against the rules of the game, not within. If you’d like to enjoy a sport where the players are awarded for this behaviour, I’d suggest you change your sports interest from football to professional wrestling.”

To this I have to say open your eyes. If you think such things are against the rules, you’re naive. If you do it and are not carded, it is not against the rules. If you do it and are carded it is against the rules. Faking exists in a space between being against the rules and within the rules, it is stretching the rules as far as they can go and sometimes a player “breaks” them. When does a player break them? Not when he makes the decision to fake an action but when the ref gives him a card. If he fakes and receives no card then as far as the game rules go, it was a legitimate foul, penalty, etc.

If you’re so obsessed with the players following a set of type-written rules and displaying moral values you’d like to teach your children than don’t watch the prem league and certainly don’t watch Serie A. And infact don’t watch nearly any top flight league in Europe, you’ll only be disappointed.

By: tom

tom — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 01:29:57 +0000

i agree with scott. you take any advantage you are given.

By: A Ref

A Ref — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 18:23:18 +0000

I thought the laws required a caution for showing dissent (defined as to differ in sentiment or opinion) against any decision given by the referee. Does this not fall into that category?!?!?!?!

By: Omaha Bhoy

Omaha Bhoy — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 21:17:19 +0000

The defender got position before playing the ball is the only potential issue I can see… Was the offensive player interviewed about his reasoning for declining the free kick?

By: fourstar

fourstar — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 20:24:31 +0000

No, Scott, you’re still wrong. You’re missing the point; 2-0 up with 27 minutes to go is by no means a won game so it can stil be compared with the scores being tied (or even losing). His decision is therefore not related to the scoreline and your conclusion is not ‘reasonable’.

By: probek

probek — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 19:35:22 +0000

Scott, you said: “Remember everyone it is a game, within the rules anything goes.”

Faking to be fouled, diving, play acting and so forth is simply against the rules of the game, not within. If you’d like to enjoy a sport where the players are awarded for this behaviour, I’d suggest you change your sports interest from football to professional wrestling.

By: Chubby

Chubby — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 16:07:18 +0000

Scott!!! Blah blah blah

Can’t you for one second stop and enjoy the moment? Yes, they were leading by two goals. Yes, wasn’t a match defining moment. But just close your eyes and imagine what Cronaldo would do? Drogba? Inzaghi? Imagine their self-righteousness. Imagine Cronaldo nodding his head in acceptance, Drogba wreathing in pain and Pippo’s hidden smirk – aren’t you tired already? This is ain’t theater.

Thank you Chris and thank you Vlad for a whiff of fresh air.

By: Scott

Scott — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 15:42:58 +0000

First off. I’m not wrong, get off your high horse and stop it. My opinion is no less valuable than anyones, cynical or not.

Second. NO ONE except the player himself has any idea what his intentions at that moment were. Instead of projecting your hopes and dreams why don’t you just look at the scenario for what it is and make a reasonable conclusion. That is all I did.

As I said twice, if he really felt he wasn’t fouled and seeing as they’re up 2, ok, let the penalty go. If the same scenario had happened in a tie or losing game for them he would either have taken the penalty, or if he didn’t he would have been brought off by the manager.