Tuesday, March 21, 2006
Chelsea vs Fulham
Saw a report in the Straits Times today about the Chelsea-Fulham match, and Mourinho's reaction to it. For those who are not into soccer, what happened was that Chelsea lost, and they had a goal disallowed for handball. Mourinho's argument was that the goal should have stood because the referee didn't see the handball. He went on to say that everyone is against his team and referees will make decisions against them just because of who they are.
This is kind of like blaming the teacher for disqualifying you from the exam because you were cheating. However, since someone else ratted on you but the teacher did not witness it, you should not have been disqualified, even when there is conclusive proof of your guilt. Now just about anyone would agree with me that it is an absurd argument. After all, you cheated and got caught. It doesn't matter who caught you, you have to face the music. How can it be acceptable just because no official saw the incident?
Contrast this with Roma's midfielder Daniele de Rossi. The ball hit his hand and entered the goal. The referee gave it to him, but he went to the referee and told him it was a handball. The goal was then disallowed. This kind of action really takes true courage. It's good to see that there are still people who believe in integrity and sportsmanship, and who understand that winning isn't everything.
As the manager of a major club in the EPL, Mourinho should display better sportsmanship. If his team loses, he should accept it gracefully instead of blaming everyone around him. He should encourage his team to play sportingly and with integrity. This would set a fine example for others to follow. He would earn a lot more respect this way and give a good impression of "The Beautiful Game" to others.
This is kind of like blaming the teacher for disqualifying you from the exam because you were cheating. However, since someone else ratted on you but the teacher did not witness it, you should not have been disqualified, even when there is conclusive proof of your guilt. Now just about anyone would agree with me that it is an absurd argument. After all, you cheated and got caught. It doesn't matter who caught you, you have to face the music. How can it be acceptable just because no official saw the incident?
Contrast this with Roma's midfielder Daniele de Rossi. The ball hit his hand and entered the goal. The referee gave it to him, but he went to the referee and told him it was a handball. The goal was then disallowed. This kind of action really takes true courage. It's good to see that there are still people who believe in integrity and sportsmanship, and who understand that winning isn't everything.
As the manager of a major club in the EPL, Mourinho should display better sportsmanship. If his team loses, he should accept it gracefully instead of blaming everyone around him. He should encourage his team to play sportingly and with integrity. This would set a fine example for others to follow. He would earn a lot more respect this way and give a good impression of "The Beautiful Game" to others.
posted by cosine @ 11:03 PM 
Comments:
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Well first of all Mourinho did concede that it was a legitimate hand ball by Drogba. However, his view that the goal should have stood, in my opinion, is correct.
The analogy of the student getting caught during exam is inappropriate because exam taking is an individual affair and the former has nothing much to gain from the cheater getting disqualified. However, in a competitive match, Fulham players STAND TO GAIN from such a goal-disallowed decision.
Well the Fulham players are of course not denied the freedom to protest, but it can be aruged that the referee, in this case, bowed to the pressure of the protesting players, which is not an act of professionalism. The replays clearly show that the referees' views were well obstructed and certainly Chelsea should be given the benefit of the doubt. Should referees' decision be swayed so easily by protesting players, the credibility is seriously compromised, and this is exactly the point that Mourinho is furious about.
Referees' decision should be respected, but making one decision and then overturning it in a matter of minutes seriously undermines the credibility and only serves to make everything more controversial.
Should the goal have stood, it would have been an incorrect decision, by fair means, but on the part of the referee, he would have done nothing wrong. Though I am not a fan of Mourinho, I would say that in this occasion he should not be the subject of criticism.
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The analogy of the student getting caught during exam is inappropriate because exam taking is an individual affair and the former has nothing much to gain from the cheater getting disqualified. However, in a competitive match, Fulham players STAND TO GAIN from such a goal-disallowed decision.
Well the Fulham players are of course not denied the freedom to protest, but it can be aruged that the referee, in this case, bowed to the pressure of the protesting players, which is not an act of professionalism. The replays clearly show that the referees' views were well obstructed and certainly Chelsea should be given the benefit of the doubt. Should referees' decision be swayed so easily by protesting players, the credibility is seriously compromised, and this is exactly the point that Mourinho is furious about.
Referees' decision should be respected, but making one decision and then overturning it in a matter of minutes seriously undermines the credibility and only serves to make everything more controversial.
Should the goal have stood, it would have been an incorrect decision, by fair means, but on the part of the referee, he would have done nothing wrong. Though I am not a fan of Mourinho, I would say that in this occasion he should not be the subject of criticism.
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