Why are Football (Soccer) players such pansies?

[GilbertGrape]

The way they fall down, looking like they're in agony is pathetic. Sure, a kick to the shins is going to hurt, but you don't see this behaviour on a Rugby field.

I think the rules should be changed. Anyone who falls to the ground like this earns a penalty against his own team.

[Stu R]

Because getting an advantage by being the better player / team isn't the way it's done, sadly.

There's plenty of equivalent unsporting advantage-gaining in Rugby, just to a much lesser extent, thankfully.

[shirt]

gives the rest of the players a breather and extends injury time. i don't like it but that's why they do it.

[GilbertGrape]

But it should be obvious they're faking it. No man can be that much of a wimp rolling around like they do.

Pink card = wimp card.

[shirt]

it is obvious they're faking it, which is why the ref. doesn't pander to it. once the player realises that they suddenly get their lungs back.

it's a symptom of modern football - making advantage of every situation. i have a simple situation - rarely watching it

[GilbertGrape]

To see this kind of behaviour is quite foreign to me, as I'm used to watching Rugby. We start playing Rugby at 5-7 years of age down here. Maybe we're just a tougher breed down here. Aus/NZ/Pacific Islands/South Africa.

Edited by GilbertGrape on Tuesday 22 June 11:40

[Eric Mc]

I hate it too - but in recent years it has becopme obvious that cheating is on the rise in games like Rugby too.

"Big money" is the background to this type of behaviour.

[GilbertGrape]

This kind of fakery couldn't work in Rugby. Hollywood acts like this would be punished with the next tackle.

[Castrol Craig]

whats the odds on a footballer going through this.....



then returning to play 3 weeks later, after suffering bruised lungs, minor vertebrae damage and and bit of a warm arse?

pansy's, the lot of them.

footballers only need one ball, motorcycle racers need 2.

[Get Karter]

Behaviour is usually repeated if it is rewarded.

Footballers gain free kicks/penalties (rewards) for simulating fouls and exaggerating injuries.

In addition, those players who wouldn't naturally do this are disadvantaged, so they feel they too have to start diving in order to keep a level playing field of cheats.

[Dave^]

From the "So, I guess we're not watching..." thread...

Dimski said:

... and demonstrating incredible thespian skills whenever touched.

Rolling on the floor in abject agony, only to be back on their feet and showing no sign of the apparent life threatening injury approx 30 seconds later.

s, the lot of them...



I stand by my previous statment...

[Lefty 200 Drams]

shirt said:

i have a simple situation - rarely watching it

^ This.

Good man, me too

[Eric Mc]

GilbertGrape said:

This kind of fakery couldn't work in Rugby. Hollywood acts like this would be punished with the next tackle.

I have yet to see this stunt being pulled in a soccer match



In some ways, this was worse. Soccer fakery tends to be instinctive (which is deplorable in itself) but THIS incident was preplanned in advance and factored into the game strategy as a contingency in case a certain scenario developed - which it did.

Edited by Eric Mc on Tuesday 22 June 08:54

[Terminator]

GilbertGrape said:

This kind of fakery couldn't work in Rugby. Hollywood acts like this would be punished with the next tackle.

It's been tried though (and punished severely) http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2009/aug/24/transc...



ETA. You're quick on the draw, Eric!

Edited by Terminator on Tuesday 22 June 08:58

[ewenm]

Eric Mc said:

GilbertGrape said:

This kind of fakery couldn't work in Rugby. Hollywood acts like this would be punished with the next tackle.

I have yet to see this stunt being pulled in a soccer match



In some ways, this was worse. Soccer fakery tends to be instinctive (which is deplorable in itself) but THIS incident was preplanned in advance and factored into the game strategy as a contingency in case a certain scenario developed - which it did.

Absolutely disgraceful antics from Quins but they were punished heavily by the league. The endemic fakery in football doesn't appear to be something that's being worked on by the FA/FIFA.

[andy_s]

I can't get over someone being paid £50,000 a week and being vaunted as being amongst the best football players in the world who then goes on to either foul, off-side or some other stupid costly mistake. They should be shot with st.

[Eric Mc]

andy_s said:

I can't get over someone being paid £50,000 a week and being vaunted as being amongst the best football players in the world who then goes on to either foul, off-side or some other stupid costly mistake. They should be shot with st.

Have you ever played football (soccer)?

[ShadownINja]

This is why I will cry inside if my children decide that they prefer football over martial arts. Perhaps they need to send pro footballers to martial arts classes.

Or show them this:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aDUuCSc42NU

[grumbledoak]

If the game was any more corrupt they'd need Don King involved. Just don't watch it, you won't miss much.

[andy_s]

Eric Mc said:

andy_s said:

I can't get over someone being paid £50,000 a week and being vaunted as being amongst the best football players in the world who then goes on to either foul, off-side or some other stupid costly mistake. They should be shot with st.

Have you ever played football (soccer)?

Not a lot, obviously kicking a ball when you shouldn't must be unavoidable. I stand corrected.