What Football can learn from Cricket
Sometime in June, Kofi Annan said FIFA, with more than 200 countries under its umbrella was unifying the world with Football, doing a much better job than the United Nations, which has 191 member countries. That sums up the fact that Football is the numero uno sport. This World Cup has only reiterated this – Record audience, Record attendance and Record prices for Ads during the event, both in time and space. And much of the credit for this wonderfully organized World Cup should definitely go to Franz Beckenbauer and his organizing committee. For the England Vs Portugal QF in Gelsenkirchen, more than seventy thousand Union Jack fans poured in to the city and still the Organizers didn’t have a single significant out-of-control situation. Kaiser’s dedication to his job is evident from the way he copters from one city to the other to watch all the matches.
Compared to Football, Cricket hasn’t had many takers. The ICC website indicates that there are 96 members countries – 10 Full members, 32 Associate members and 54 Affiliate members. Maybe the long duration that a single game of cricket takes to complete is the reason for the snail-paced globalization of Cricket. The ICC and the World Cup 2007 Organizing Committee can definitely learn a thing or two from this fantastically conducted FIFA WC. The Cricket WC in the Caribbean next year will have half as many teams as in this year’s FIFA WC which means the number of fans making it to the West Indies during the WC will be far lesser than to Germany this year. Still, the authorities in WI fear huge shortage of accommodation at next year’s WC and have urged the fans to seek accommodation as early as this year!!
One aspect where, I feel, cricket has outscored Football is in “Fair Play”. Excessive appealing by the players and the odd bump-catch being claimed happen regularly. But always the players are on good terms and don’t run into each other every other minute. With Football, this isn’t the case. Run-ins between the players has become common; spats (and also sometimes spits) have become the order of the day. Maybe the intensity with which football is being played nowadays has something to do with this. And the players want to win at any cost which is why the number of unwarranted dives in the D has gone up tremendously in recent years. Cristiano Ronaldo is a perfect example of this latest trick of going down too easily – I am sure any circus would love to have this guy. Its a pity that these football players, great role models in their own country, adored and admired by millions around the world, resort to “CHEATING”, after all to win a match.
This reminds me of something that happened in a press conference with Adam Gilchrist some two years ago. During the semifinals of Cricket WC 2003 against Sri Lanka, Gilchrist shocked the cricketing fraternity by WALKING when the umpire had not raised his finger. Following that, Gilchrist has maintained his practice of Walking, though some criticize that he isn’t consistent in doing that. During the aforementioned press conference, one of the journalists asked Gilchrist if he would still walk, if Australia, chasing 300 were 298 for nine. Gilchrist came up with an answer that silenced everybody in the media room.
He said – “It’s a sad thing that people confuse commonplace things like winning and losing with moral values and ethical practices.”
Is C.Ronaldo listening???
Compared to Football, Cricket hasn’t had many takers. The ICC website indicates that there are 96 members countries – 10 Full members, 32 Associate members and 54 Affiliate members. Maybe the long duration that a single game of cricket takes to complete is the reason for the snail-paced globalization of Cricket. The ICC and the World Cup 2007 Organizing Committee can definitely learn a thing or two from this fantastically conducted FIFA WC. The Cricket WC in the Caribbean next year will have half as many teams as in this year’s FIFA WC which means the number of fans making it to the West Indies during the WC will be far lesser than to Germany this year. Still, the authorities in WI fear huge shortage of accommodation at next year’s WC and have urged the fans to seek accommodation as early as this year!!
One aspect where, I feel, cricket has outscored Football is in “Fair Play”. Excessive appealing by the players and the odd bump-catch being claimed happen regularly. But always the players are on good terms and don’t run into each other every other minute. With Football, this isn’t the case. Run-ins between the players has become common; spats (and also sometimes spits) have become the order of the day. Maybe the intensity with which football is being played nowadays has something to do with this. And the players want to win at any cost which is why the number of unwarranted dives in the D has gone up tremendously in recent years. Cristiano Ronaldo is a perfect example of this latest trick of going down too easily – I am sure any circus would love to have this guy. Its a pity that these football players, great role models in their own country, adored and admired by millions around the world, resort to “CHEATING”, after all to win a match.
This reminds me of something that happened in a press conference with Adam Gilchrist some two years ago. During the semifinals of Cricket WC 2003 against Sri Lanka, Gilchrist shocked the cricketing fraternity by WALKING when the umpire had not raised his finger. Following that, Gilchrist has maintained his practice of Walking, though some criticize that he isn’t consistent in doing that. During the aforementioned press conference, one of the journalists asked Gilchrist if he would still walk, if Australia, chasing 300 were 298 for nine. Gilchrist came up with an answer that silenced everybody in the media room.
He said – “It’s a sad thing that people confuse commonplace things like winning and losing with moral values and ethical practices.”
Is C.Ronaldo listening???
posted by VAC | 4:12 AM
6 Comments:
the diff btwn football and cricket is that football is a much more physical game. Diving and play-actin was initially started by one of the most gifted players to have ever kicked a ball- MARADONA. But it was not without reasons. Defenders had no clue has to how to stop Diego's mazy runs. So they decided to jack him. He was at the receivin end of a lot of bad fouls. Then finally he decided upon his solution 'divin' and 'play-actin'. Since then many a gr8 player has been guilty of it. Now wers the solution. I dont think u cant imbibe the required spirit of fair play into all participants. Even players who dont dive tend to resort to it wen they r at the receivin end of bad decisions over a period of time. The classic example bein Thierry Henry. FIFA is takin some good action with regard to this. Sepp Blatter was quoted as sayin that hes plannin on introducin 2 ground refs. Thats a good thing. Another thing that both cricket and football need rite now is the effective use of modern-day technology.
@asiftherock
you are totally wrong in telling that Maradona started diving. In fact he is player who always goes for the ball even when he has been brought down by a tackle from behind.
In fact you can check some of the quotes of the legendary defenders like Paolo Maldini, Franco Baresi ... who clearly say that current players can learn from players like Maradona to go always go for the ball.
In case you want to condemn Maradona for scoring the "Hand of God". First check up the official FIFA broadcast. In that very game at the 21 minute, when the ball is in the Arg penalty area Maradona gets an elbow right on his face (similar to the De Rossi elbow in this WC). The Englsih player got away without a certain Red Card. Such was the intimidation Maradona faced in the pitch just bcoz this guy had the talent to change a game. Obviously he will fight fire with fire and hence the so-called Hand of god.
Then again, the ethos in cricket and football has differed. Cricket has always had a much more gentlemanly aspect to the game than any other sport, and it something that carries on - you see batsmen walking on their own, or fielders calling back opposition players for bump catches. Heck, this image just about embodies it all - http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/graphics/gallery/cricket/ashes05/teamguide/usecond3.jpg
Another area where football needs to learn from cricket is in the use of technology. At least with stumpings/run outs/bump catches, umpires now can refer decisions to the third umpire and get the benefits of replays in their decisions. With the number of wrongly called fouls in football these days because of players diving/tripping over nothing, something like that to aid the referee could do wonders.
@Vivek: Thanks da. To conduct a Commonwealth Games is no joke buddy. It invovles huge cash outlays since it involves nearly 70 odd commonwealth countries and is a multi-disciplinary event.
@Asif: Hey, I do accept that Football is a more physical game that cannot do without shouldering and an occasional push here and there. But elbowing, Diving and the likes dont make for a happy viewing. After all, a game is a game. Nothing more than it. But the problem is the teams see it as a war to be won and that is where the difference between fierce play and foul play gets blurred.
Btw look above - Soccer Mania begs to differ from ur view on the origins of Diving and Play acting.
@Silver: I too agree that henry is no saint and that he exaggerated the dive when he was tripped down by R.Carvalho. But that was a definite penalty. You cant afford to make contact with the opp team's forward's legs, however unintentional it may be.
@Soccer Mania: Thanks for ur info on Maradona's attacking play.
@Salil: True, Cricket is surely the most gentlemanly game. Jus like that picture suggests.
But regarding the use of Technology in Football, the apprehensions of using Technology is well known. Football is a fast-paced game unlike Cricket and any reference of decision to a TV referee would hold play, which will affect the very nature of the game.
What if a situation like the Dhoni-Lara affair happened in Football?? You cant stop play for such a long duration!!
Sepp Blatter is seriously looking at the proposal of having two on-field and four-line referees in the future. Hope that will solve the problem.
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