The FFA has a large scale issue to deal with and it is not Clive Palmer and Gold Coast United. It is the continued diving/simulation and acting in the game. The incident in the Perth Glory v Brisbane Roar game has yet again brought this issue into the spotlight and even the media does not seem to be able to report the incident.
Watch the footage and make up your own mind, I have my opinions and I will stand by them. Burns clearly collects Henrique on the jaw with an elbow (possibly accidental) and Henrique immediate reaction is to grab for his jaw. Burns then inflames the situation by going to him and grabbing at him obvisously in an attempt to rile him up. I only say this as Henrique's reaction is to push Burns away. Burns then grabs at his face and writhes on the ground as if Mike Tyson has just felled him with a vicious right hook. Although watch most highlights of the incident and they won't show Burns' reaction. The referee had no hesitation in showing Henrique a straight red card. The media is reporting this as a slap and some have even labelled it a "revenge" attack. Imagine the outcry in the media if Harry Kewell was carded after a similar incident?
If the FFA is serious about their game they should be coming out and vocally condemning the act of Burns, who as captain, and should be setting a better example on the field. Why is it that is a striker takes a dive in the penalty box to get a free kick he is shown a yellow for simulation, but when a player takes a dive in general play and acts as though he has received a career ending injury in an attempt to get the opposition player penalised and hopefully carded that the penalty is not the same.
Regardless of where on the field an incident happens, if you want to stamp it out of the game there is only one path to choose. Penalise it harshly. If not on the field during the game, do it after the game and start imposing suspensions or fines. I coach Small Sided Football which is non-competitive and I have been witness to appalling behaviour from children who can only be learning what they are doing from what they are seeing.
It's funny how the commentators kept going on about how much the ref was letting things go only to have him get sucked in so perfectly with this card decision.
ReplyDeleteSideline supporter is spot on. Commentators are great at noticing certain things on the field but always seem to miss the really obvious issues.
ReplyDeleteTo compound the issue Henrique has now been handed a 2 match ban for for the so called "slap". The FFA has labelled it as assault. Seriously? Since when is shoving a guy back seen as a slap and assault. If this is classed as assault then why are dangerous tackles done with intent that cause injury not handled the same way.