Dear Editor,
I just happen to be one of the millions of new-born fans from around the globe who have become addicted to ‘football’, but only while the FIFA World Cup Finals last. After July 13, 2014, I, like those millions, will revert to the comparative indifference – mostly towards the English League which, incidentally, seems unable to produce championship performers.
Newcomer USA has done so much better, with their performance in Brazil earning unexpected popularity at home, where elated commentators have been sufficiently cautious as to make a distinction between ‘football’ (in Brazil) and ‘soccer’ (in USA).
But in Brazil, viewers were exposed to something more (or less) than football. It was the persistent and pre-determined physical contact, which I could only compare with authentic boxing matches where there has been perceptibly less contact.
The level of violence that was officially accepted as routine during the games, from the point of view of an inductee, was quite unacceptable. Not only was there much (mis-)use of hands restraining the opposition, but there were too many times when feet were aimed more often at opposing feet, than at the football. Some of the referees’ decisions on these collisions must certainly invite close examination. There were times when this viewer could detect signs of significant bias.
On the whole the frequency of assaults did nothing to confirm that the various players were in fact sportsmen.
Ironically, however, one was exposed to the contradiction wherein the victim of a bite on his shoulder survived to play, while the attacker was given an extended ban from (FIFA) football – this against a leading (Brazilian) striker to all appearances, targeted, and finally struck down, and indefinitely invalided, by a ‘sportsman’ who was palpably exonerated by the game’s supervising officials. What a tragedy, the effect of which was the later humiliation of host team.
There would appear to be a good case for a comprehensive review of this tournament of footballing gladiators, so that all such animalistic behaviour can be expunged from this ‘sport.’
The least that should be required is ‘hands off’, or be penalised – by reverting to soccer!
Yours faithfully,
E B John
