During the 70th minute of a match between Dorchester and Havant & Waterlooville, a spectator wearing nothing more than a green thong and a curly black wig ran onto the field. Thirty seconds into his escapade, Dorchester player/manager Ashley Vickers tackled the intruder. The intruder was banned from the stadium. Vickers was given a red card and thrown out of the game.
Exactly what criteria was used to determine that the Vickers' actions should get him thrown out of a tie game? According to the rules of soccer, a red card can be given for one of the following seven reasons: serious foul play, violent conduct, spitting at someone, deliberately touching a ball with the hand to impede it's progress, fouling an opponent to prevent an obvious goal scoring opportunity, using offensive or threatening language or gestures, and receiving two yellow cards. Under the letter of the rule, this could be considered violent conduct, but should that not only apply to other players or if a player enters the stands themselves? If some drunken moron runs out onto the field of play, he deserves what he gets.
Also, how is the player or coach to know whether or not he is going to be attacked? Remember back on September 19, 2002 when Kansas City Royals first base coach Tom Gamboa got attacked by two White Sox fans? Who is to say that this person running out onto the field isn't another William Ligue Jr? If anything, Vickers should be commended for ending this unwelcome, and potentially dangerous, interruption to the match.
Incidents like this are part of the reason why soccer will never truly become popular in the United States. Whether or not the reputation is deserved, soccer is regarded as a soft sport where the players dive and flop continually. Removing someone from the game because they tackled an interloping fan only further reinforces this image. Soccer just doesn't get it, and probably never will.
No comments:
Post a Comment