Does soccer have any integrity?
 

As a hochey mad Canadian watching soccer (football, or whatever you call it) seriously for the first time I'm dumb struck by the ridiculous swan dives and dramatized protests the players put on virtually every 5 minutes of the game. The slightest contact and the player automatically goes down like he's been shot. They don't just go down and discreetly hide their pain. It's a whole big production complete with hideous grimaces, outrageous screaming, fists thumping the ground, and if we're lucky a few backwards summersaults thrown in for good measure. On comes the stretcher to carry the player off and then he's back on the field within 30 seconds. WTF.

What's with the guy that got head butted by Figo? It took him 3 seconds to figure out that it hurt and then he decides to go down in a heap? What a bunch of drama queens these guys are!

Do all the player have to turn to the ref in unison with arms stretched out, palms turned upwards whenever there's a questionable play? That gets old real fast. Get the fuck on with the game and let the ref decide for himself. He's not going to change his mind.

These guys could learn a thing or 2 from hockey players. Every game guys get a 90 mph puck in the leg or the foot. They can barely stand up yet they stick with it and limp through the play broken bones and all.

All that said I guess I kind of like watching the games. Could be a great game if it wasn't played by a bunch of children in men's bodies.

haha, yeah I guess it looks funny when you watch for a frist time

basically players that fall down and roll like my rims are more likely to do that when they can get a penalty - of course if they fake it in a big way they can get a card from the referee instead, but most of the time it's worth a try I guess

yep.. awful to watch.. thats why I love english footy and not these southern diving teams

So why is soccer any different than any other team sport? They could do the same thing in hockey for the same reasons but they don't. Any player who tries doing that would lose all respect with all the other players on both teams.

aint ice hockey just padded brawling on ice......

I think some of the players do put a lot of hard work into their sport, training and the such but there is some despicable behaviour on the field - diving and stuff, but its not every player... some are more fair than others.

soccer is different all over the world.. the further south you go, the more diving you'll normally get.. just different mentality in different countries

Yeah, it's fucking irritating. They should start pulling yellow cards for simulating fouls, put a quick end to this shit.

no and it will never be

Soccer supposes way less body contact than hockey. Rules prohibit checking or knocking the player down to get ball posession or scoring position.
Things like that happening every 10 seconds on ice rink, but will get you instant ejection or even suspension in soccer.
Thats why players often simulate injuries even after slight contact. Not because they are pussies, but because it can get your opponent booked or sent off. The rules are different, so there are more diving...

Funny you mention different mentality in certain countries. I noticed that mentality even in business and general every day culture on our recent shooting trip to Czech.

So what's the worst diving country?

I'd like to see full contact soccer. Give them pads and let them go at it. lol.

Aren't they almost all simulated? I'd like to be the ref for just one game. I'd be telling them to get the fuck up and get on with it. There'd be so many diving red cards they'd end up playing 2 on 2.

Heh, it would be massacre at this case..
I prefer leaving soccer as it is, and just watch hockey when you want to see guys hitting hard each other. I love watching NHL hockey...

Argentina were bad the other night... and Ecuador yesterday against England.

I really think soccer should add another Ref to the game. One ref is just not enough to cover the entire field. Even basketball, which is played on a small court and with ten players total, has 2 refs, or is it 3?

Don't all the fouls occur where the ball is at? I doubt it takes 2 refs to follow the play of the ball. Hockey has 2 refs but then half the penalties happen away from the play so it makes sense there.

True, but how is one ref able to stay close to where the ball is at when the ball is being kicked all over the field?

They already do that :winkwink:

from earlier experiences I'd say italy and portugal on a close second.. any country around that southern belt.. just the way it is.. I hate to see that and its so different from up here..