You can't trust any sportsperson today, can you?

[stephec]

As someone once said to me a few years ago, 'where there's money there's always a fiddle.'

 

[PaulB]

I don't think sportspeople are any worse than anyone else, in whatever line of work there will always be some who act ethically, some who play to the strict letter of the rules, and some who step over the line.

Sport's different though. You must abide by different rules. In life, a man cheats on his wife, some regard him as a player, a stud, a man's man. In business, a man cheats his way to the top and is rewarded with titles, positions of power, directorships. In politics, lying and cheating are not only accepted, they're practically essential. In sport though! We're still asking if that ball crossed the line in 1966! One teensy tiny infringement and the player/participant caught is ostracised and will suffer a massive drop in potential earnings. So no, I think you're wrong. Sportspeople caught cheating will be judged by different rules and that will make them MUCH worse.

 

[Proto]

I remember reading an article some years ago about the culture of what British fans would consider cheating in Italian football. It said that s far as the Italian players were concerned tripping, elbowing, shirt pulling etc were all part of the game and was not cheating. If it led to success then it was applauded and players were not frowned upon for such activities, no disapproval from fans. The referee's job was to catch them at it, the players job was to avoid detection.

 

[Drago]

I'm not a football fan so know little about it, but isn't it supposed to be a non contact sport? If so, what's all this shirt pulling, arm-barring opponents etc all about? They might as well be playing rugby for the amount of manhandling one sees.

 

[PaulB]

I'm not a football fan so know little about it, but isn't it supposed to be a non contact sport? If so, what's all this shirt pulling, arm-barring opponents etc all about? They might as well be playing rugby for the amount of manhandling one sees.

No, it isn't a non-contact sport. Contact is allowed and in some cases, essential.

 

[Drago]

What sort of contact do the rules permit? Serious question, never ever followed footy, know virtually nothing about it.

 

[Beebo]

What sort of contact do the rules permit? Serious question, never ever followed footy, know virtually nothing about it.

Shoulder barging and tackling is allowed.
Basket ball is a truely non contact team sport.

 

[PaulB]

What sort of contact do the rules permit? Serious question, never ever followed footy, know virtually nothing about it.

Shoulder charging, tackling to get the ball, blocking, elbowing opponents in the face (this one only applies if you play for Manchester United),

 

[snorri]

Who cares, it's not as if they have proper jobs anyway.

 

[Drago]

I'm confused. Out of curiosity I surfed the FIA website and found something about the laws of football - sounds like an Asimov creation. Anyway, they're not allowed to impede an opposing player through contact, and surely by pushing or grabbing them they in contact with them with the intention of impeding them?

I'm beginning to feel this football malarkey isn't for me

 

[Drago]

I think I'd rather get a job!

 

[AndyRM]

I'm confused. Out of curiosity I surfed the FIA website and found something about the laws of football - sounds like an Asimov creation. Anyway, they're not allowed to impede an opposing player through contact, and surely by pushing or grabbing them they in contact with them with the intention of impeding them?

I'm beginning to feel this football malarkey isn't for me

Try a website about football, things may become clearer. Possibly.

 

[Drago]

I wondered about the who overtaking thing!

 

[Scoosh]

Mod Note: Let's not derail the thread by talking about the specific rules of one sport - as they are always 'subject to interpretation'.

Thank you.

 

[pubrunner]

. . . . . . One teensy tiny infringement and the player/participant caught is ostracised and will suffer a massive drop in potential earnings. So no, I think you're wrong. Sportspeople caught cheating will be judged by different rules and that will make them MUCH worse.

Whether those caught are ostracised, depends on the attitude of the authorities towards the offender. Eddie Merckx was caught cheating more than once, but it didn't seem to change public opinion towards him - largely down to the lack of willingness to make anything of it.