lookupsport

Many words have been written about the contrast between football and rugby, but the contrast can never have been so stark as this weekend.

First up - Respect for the opposition

The Irish applauding the English National anthem at the emotional start to the rugby at Croke park on Sunday.  I’m not sure when it started but I can’t remember the last International match I saw when the opposition did NOT jeer the other teams National anthem.  Applauding might be too much for some but surely a little respect and not jeering would be a start.

Secondly - Self respect

Rarely if ever do you see a rugby player try and con the referee into sending off or booking an opponent,or simply to gain an advantage.  Rarely do you see a football match (certainly not in the top flight), where a player doesn’t dive, and you never see a match where a player doesn’t over react to a slight knock and require the “magic sponge”, or to be stretchered off where he goes on to make a miraculous recovery.

Thirdly - Respect for Officials

Swearing and intimidation of the referee and linesmen is simply not tolerated in Rugby.  This enables the referees to wear microphones, making it more interactive for the spectators and adding another dimension to the game.  Despite a “tougher line” being taken by FIFA, you can watch any game and see that swearing, whether directed at the officials or at an opponent is as prevalent now as it ever was.

Fourthly - Video Evidence

The introduction of video evidence has added an extra dimension to Rugby and eradicated a lot of mistakes.  FIFA stubbornly refuses to move with the times for whatever reason. Take this weekend’s fracas during the Carling Cup Final.  If the 4th offical was able to review the trouble and inform the referee who the main culprits were, then justice could have been handed out there and then.  Instead the referee and assistant are put under enormous pressure to unpick the situation and then criticised by the fans when they make a mistake. 

All of these problems and things can be addressed quickly and easily if only FIFA wanted to.  But they seem more content to keep playing around with the offside rule than tackling the real issues.  If they give the referees the tools and authority to deal with the problems when they occur, and they then carry out the requisite punishment, then the players would very quickly tow the line.  They have made some moves in this direction with stopping players from intimidating referees, but it’s only the tip of the ice berg.  They should grasp the nettle and clean up the game ready for the start of next season.