Play Hard, But Play Smart: The Unfortunate Case of Abou Diaby

As a referee, I often find myself reminding players that the game is supposed to be for fun. After all, I’m usually the only one being paid for being there.

So when a team is losing by an insurmountable number of goals, it perplexes me when someone (on either side) commits a reckless or harsh foul. When this occurs, I’ll often loudly remind everyone by saying something like, “Hey, the score’s seven to nothing! Is that really necessary?”. I hate seeing anyone get injured, but feel even moreso in this regard when there’s nothing left to play for except pride.

At the professional level this is even more important to keep in mind because players make their livelihoods on the pitch. An injury has the potential to end what would otherwise be a very lucrative career.

This is why it boggles the mind why Sunderland’s Dan Smith would commit a dangerous challenge on Arsenal’s Abou Diaby with his team losing 0 - 3 in the final minute of the match. What possibly could’ve been gained here?!

The end result is that Diaby’s season is over. No Champions League Final and instead, months of rehab as he struggles to regain fitness from a fractured and dislocated ankle as a result of this stupid play.

Smith and his manager are, of course, claiming that the foul wasn’t deliberatel and that he was merely trying to win the ball. It’s a bogus argument I hear all the time and one that means nothing to the injured party.

Arsenal’s coach Arsene Wenger and other members of the team have claimed that Smith’s foul - for which he was shown a yellow card - was deliberate, something that is possible but would be very difficult to prove. However, one thing is for certain - it was a STUPID and wholly unnecessary challenge (which I have not seen) considering the score and the time remaining.

Wenger argues that Smith should be suspended for a period of time equal to the time it takes Diaby to return to play again. Players should be held accountable for their actions and common sense would dictate, in my estimation, that Wenger has a valid point.

Maybe if examples were made of players who commit dangerous and/or recklessly idiotic fouls you’d see fewer of them in the future. Sure, soccer is a contact sport, but participants need to use their brains to ensure the safety of everyone on the pitch.

Play hard, but play smart…that’s my advice.

Until next time…

peace,
ac