National Pride and Good Sportsmanship Go Hand in Hand

With the World Cup now little more than a month away, many of us are finalizing our travel plans for what we are all hoping will be a tournament filled with passion and excitement. A major component of this passion will likely be nationalistic fervor and pride in one’s homeland.

For those of us who are American, these are especially challenging times. While we are fortunate enough to live in this great place, our popularity around the globe has taken a hit during the past several years in large part because our leader shunned the world community in deciding to invade Iraq to remove Saddam Hussein from power.

Admittedly, I have been against this war from the start and often feel embarrassed that the leader of my country, at least in my estimation, continues his reckless policies in both the international and domestic arenas. And for those with a curious mind, I encourage you to take a look at a recent article from ‘Rolling Stone’ magazine entitled “Worst President in History?”. The author, an acclaimed historian, makes a compelling case for his thesis.

There’s no escaping the fact that our President isn’t terribly popular at home, but probably even less so beyond our borders. It’s for this reason that it’s incumbent upon every American traveling to Germany this summer do whatever he or she can to represent our country in the most positive way we can. The World Cup is an opportunity for us to try to make peace with those who would believe that we are all cast in the same mold as our leader.

Now I’ll get off my political soapbox and share with you some thoughts about the game we all love. To begin with, I’d like to applaud FIFA in what they’re doing to ensure that players play by the rules in a spirit of fairness and integrity throughout the upcoming tourmanent. Ultimately, it is we, the fans of this game who will benefit from the tweaking of the rules. Additionally, the training and experience of the referees will help to ensure fair play. Plus, none of the teams will be able to make a claim that FIFA’s new directives were not communicated to them properly since each team will meet with members of the world’s governing body of football prior to the beginning of the tournament.

This kind of communication, no matter what level of play we’re talking about, is key to ensuring that players understand the ramifications of their actions and behaviors. I mention this because sometimes in amateur soccer the participants have little or no respect for the referee…i.e. me. For the most part, this does not occur amongst more highly skilled teams and usually only seems to be prevalent amongst adults. Moreso, I find that coed soccer is where the very worst behavior actually transpires, usually because of the diversity of skill levels on the field combined with the fact that men (behaving like boys) are often trying to show-off for their teammates of the opposite sex.

Take last night for example, a mid-level coed indoor game that included a variety of ability levels. On one of the teams were two guys built like defensive lineman with attitudes to match. The beefier of the two was riding me all game long, twice yelling out “You suck, ref!”. On the second occasion, I warned him that he wasn’t to speak to me again and should focus on playing the game instead.

So about a minute later when he yelled out, “You better not quit your day job” (which is sorta funny since I don’t even have one), I showed him my yellow card and told him to get off the field since a two-minute penalty accompanies cautions at this facility. As he noisily made his way from the pitch he flipped me off. I produced the red and told him his night was over.

Later, when the goalie of the opposing team came out to challenge the ball near the touchline, the other ‘defensive lineman’ turned around after the ball had gone out of play and starting bumping his chest into the much smaller keeper in a very threatening way. After blowing my whiste several times, one of the goalie’s teammates tried get between them, but the big guy continued pressing the goalie backwards.

When I showed him my yellow card he wouldn’t stop, so that’s when I stepped in between them and pushed the big buffoon backwards. (For those who are unaware, I’m 5′2″, but built like a pit bull.) To this action, he responded, “WHAT ARE YOU DOING…I’LL FUCKING KILL YOU!!!”

“Well, you might fucking kill me some other time or place, but you’re not gonna do it when I’m the referee, I’ll tell you that!!!”. And then I showed the snarling thug my red card to make it clear that I wasn’t going to allow him to threaten me like that and continue to play.

Now, other than for mere entertainment value, I share this story with you because I believe that the problem at this particular facility isn’t me for being too harsh, because I assure you, in games I officiate you really have to cross a line for me to send you off. No, the problem here is that when a player receives a red card he knows that this facility won’t give you much of a suspension unless you start a fight. And even then it’s only for a few games.

At Portland Indoor Soccer, where I’d been refereeing for more than a decade until moving back east to be with my girlfriend, the sanctions are quite heavy for red cards, especially in coed soccer where a yearlong suspension is the penalty for such outrageous behavior or play. But at this popular facility in Albany, NY where I now work, players get away with tons of shit and will continue to until management clamps down on the idiots.

So, to FIFA, I give thanks for doing their part to make the game better for everyone – players and fans alike. By laying down the law and being firm in your commitment to fair play, you set a good example. I only hope that league administrators and facility managers are paying attention.

Until next time…

peace,
ac