Found via The Far Post Report, Paul Gardner at the New York Sun has a column up talking about how FIFA is allowing violence on the field to the detriment of skilled play. While I think his fixation on Zidane is a bit much (since he actually DID get ejected), I think there is something to be said about overly physical play on the pitch slipping by. Should FIFA be clamping down more and perhaps allowing the 4th official to flag violent play? A sucker punch to the ribs has no place in soccer. Paul thinks they should clamp down, but like anything with FIFA, isn’t expecting much:

What the sport awaits - critically needs - is firm action from FIFA to make sure referees enforce the rules against rough play. Will 2007 mark a swing of the soccer pendulum back toward a more skill-oriented game? A game in which players like Sheffield’s Morgan are simply not allowed to get away with mayhem at the expense of both the rules and the sport’s star players.

We’ve been waiting a long time for such a move from FIFA, so holding one’s breath is not recommended.

Good advice.

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1. Comments
   
2. 

   Lazy writing. Zidane wasn’t a national hero for the headbutt, for god’s sake.

   The point on Ivanov is an interesting one especially since general consensus seems to be that the reason it turned into such a bloodbath was that he didn’t respond correctly to nastiness earlier on.

   Eh. It seems people are always wailing that the world cup sucks for some reason or other. I think you have to take that stuff with a grain of salt. Especially since the examples this guy uses involve either people who WERE punished for violent behavior, or people who weren’t punished because the referee didn’t see it. You can’t call what you don’t see.

   On the other hand. What was that EPL game a few months back where 2 goalkeepers got concussions? In one game. So maybe the guy does have a point, but like I said. Lazy writing.

   Comment by human 01.24.07 @ 12:21 pm
3. 

   Yeah I didn’t like the Zidane comparison either.

   But there have been scary collisions in Premier, both the keepers plus the one defender who got absolutely clobbered (can’t for the life of me recall his name)

   I agree that people are too quick to say ‘wah the World Cup sucked’. I freely admit I can’t find the time to watch enough premiership to know if the incidence of violent behavior is on the rise or not.

   Comment by Soccer Dad 01.24.07 @ 12:50 pm

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