The Hand of Gaul

During the past two World Cups, in Japan & Korea and Germany, our bloggers wrote for other sites on how cheating, poor refereeing and Fifa’s lack of initiative are ruining the sport. So here we are again…

The Handball

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XxtMb5oKcd0

French Enjoy their Victory

http://www.france24.com/en/20091119-press-react-henry-main-de-dieu-football-france-ireland-world-cup-sport-thierry-uk

Thierry Henry on the Handball

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s7pbKT37QjY

Irish Coach, Trapattoni’s Response

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/internationals/8368100.stm

David Ginola on Thierry Henry Handball

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D4NrI4zM3fA

Here Ginola encourages doing “anything” for team and country. Clearly, players and coaches know that the refereeing is poor and that as part of the game they should take advantage of it. How does encouraging cheating make the sport better? It makes it more dramatic for all you queens out there but it does not make the sport better. Ginola goes on to admit it is cheating by saying it is part of the game and therefore by his logic not cheating. If you have studied French philosophy you may understand this way of thinking. However, if you are a student of 15th century English philosophy then the reality is it is a handball, on purpose and cheating.

Fifa, the question we have been asking for ten years. Why not use instant replay like American football? It works and is fast. Why not have referees behind the goals like the NHL? Hockey has had it forever and guess what? It works! It is clear the refs are not up to the skill level of the players so why not provide the aid they need to make the games more about the art and skill of the sport and less about European indecision and drama. This is the world’s largest competition for a single sport, wouldn’t it be better if the drama was on the field?

Nice way to start off the World Cup. At GWK we are sure of two things for the upcoming World Cup –

1. Americans won’t be watching as usual.
2. Cheating, diving and poor refereeing will determine more games than actual play.

We’ll be watching here at GWK and hoping we have something different to tell you about this World Cup. Now, I’m going to go have a few glasses of whiskey and toast the Irish. We’ll drink again when France is knocked out. Have a feeling it’s going to be a long, frustrating World Cup.

In the meantime, here are some gratuitous photos of the Brazilian Woman’s Soccer Team from Brazilian Playboy. They look more like a modeling team than a football team. BRAZIL 2014!!!