Saturday, September 14, 2013

A Chance to Send a Message on Flopping

FIFA is apparently investigating a Costa Rican player, Joel Campbell, who (it seems quite obvious) took a dive and faked an injury in last week’s game against the US. The incident resulted in the US player, Matt Besler, getting a yellow card which meant (because he had received a yellow in an earlier game) that he was suspended for the US’s next World Cup qualifying match.

Here’s a gif of the incident:


This sort of thing gives soccer a bad name. FIFA needs to come down hard on Campbell (a multi-game suspension) if they’re serious about putting a stop to it.

(Aside: I’d like to see the NBA take meaningful action against flopping in that sport as well. But I really don’t care that much, since basketball would still suck without the flopping).

Rescinding Besler’s yellow card would have no real meaning (he’s already served his suspension), but it might be a good symbolic gesture.

It was convenient that a Mexican ref was able to deprive the US of several players in their next game, which happened to be against Mexico.

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