Is football still the beautiful game, or is it riddled with greedy players who are yobs and/or cheats?

Question

This World Cup has seen even Thierry Henry, the one player I was sure was above such behaviour, feigning injury. I wonder whether other people share my disillusionment with the game I grew up loving?

Answer 1

It's Fifa's chance to step up and make some serious repercussions for diving... ie retroactive redcards after a game. The game itself is still beautiful, and it still has its players that are good sportsmen ( Edgar David, Ronaldinho, many of the English players... the list goes on). I agree Henry surprised me when he feigned injury, and I lost alot of respect for him because of it. But, I don't think the game is doomed.. I just think FIFA has to show their committment to running the world's best sport and do something about a small snag in its rules.

Answer 2

Football has always had incidents of fouling and still does at all levels... that's why the card system was introduced.

The over-evident dive-craze that we've seen a lot of lately is more to do with the money that's pumped into the game. FIFA has the means and technology to stamp out diving... I mean, for instance, last night after Zidane's foul the fourth official checked back on a recording to inform the ref of the offence... the ref hadn't actually seen it himself.

Now, if they can do that for a foul... why not for a dive?!?

Why? ...well, because dives produce a non-violent 'spectacle'.

FIFA obviously can't be seen to favour violent acts on pitch as a way of creating drama but as dives are non-contact and non-violent they can use them to create drama and interest... and to lengthen games without being seen as tampering.

Longer games that run into extra time, with a bit of drama thrown in all add up to more TV viewers... more need from the TV producers and cable companies... and all that equals - more money!

I follow a small town English Southern League team... no TV, no big sponsership deals and very little money... Do you see any diving at that level...

...No!

Answer 3

It is still the beautiful game with a few ugly changes, it is full of wimps, The referring has gone so far towards no contact that it makes ever tackle a chance of a foul if the player acts right. Bring back the days when players came of the pitch looking like war heroes! It is to soft now a booking was still a booking but a bad tackle(miss timed) only a foul if possession was lost, not if the player cried about it!

Answer 4

i've started diving at our Sunday League Pub Games - We were unbeaten last season because of this - we scored the most goals (quite a few from penalties) and I often got bought a round of drinks in the pub after the game. Therefore I belive diving/cheating should be actively encouraged and become part of the national cirriculum.

Answer 5

There will never be a game as popular as football in the entire universe for many years to come if not forever. It will always be the beautiful game.

Answer 6

Give me rugby anyday of the week, it's a man's game, not like football full of overpaid poofs who roll around after a little knock, crying if they don't get their own way. I used to enjoy football, but not any more.

Answer 7

Still a beautiful game. Throw out the divers.

Answer 8

Better without players like Rooney that made a terrible aggression to a Portuguese player.Now it looks that you are more concerned with Ronaldo divings or what he spoke with the referee then what Rooney did to Carvalho.But i believe that is tradition in here ... (BECKHAM)All players dive and try to cheat,Thats why we need good referees.excuses ,excuses.

Answer 9

It's still the beautiful game, it just has ugly players.

Answer 10

the blame lies with managers and the fa,but the pressure to win is immense.but yes its still the beautiful,unprodictable game it always was.
mike