Fair or foul? Socceroos' history of being carded
JOHN HUXLEY
June 22, 2010

ON THE eve of one of the most important matches in their history, the Socceroos have been awarded international football's unofficial ''unfair play'' award.

Under the headline ''Australia's red mist'', FIFA officials yesterday pointed out the ''unwelcome'' fact that in the last four World Cup matches played by the Socceroos, no fewer than six players have been sent off.

Two Australians have been sent off in the present campaign: Tim Cahill for foul play in the 0-4 defeat by Germany, and Harry Kewell, more controversially, for hand ball in the 1-1 draw with Ghana.

At the 2006 World Cup in Germany, Brett Emerton was sent off after receiving two yellow cards in the 2-2 draw with Croatia, who had two players, Dario Simic and Josip Simunic, red carded.

And Italy's Marco Materazzi was given his marching orders in the ''round of 16'' match, which Australia lost by an equally contentious last-minute penalty conceded by Lucas Neill.

Coincidence? Bad luck? Bad refereeing? Or a reflection of how the Socceroos - and the teams they encounter - play the game?

This week, the players and their coach, Pim Verbeek, have pointed out that they play to the rules, and that they have been harshly treated by referees in their two matches in South Africa.

David Lowe, a sports specialist at the Centre for Cultural Research, University of Western Sydney, half agrees. ''Australia is definitely not a dirty team. They play hard, the way they play other contact sports hard … But perhaps they shouldn't be surprised at the consequences some times. … They don't go in for the diving, the theatricals of other teams. They play it straight.''

http://www.theage.com.au/world-cup-2010/world-cup-news/fair-or-foul-socceroos-history-of-being-carded-20100621-ysd7.html

there whould be at least 30 red cards missed for the pathetic simulation that is rife at this world cup, i think fifa need to have a match review committee and hand out penalties to the pathetic soft cocks who are ruining the great game and making it the laughing stock of other codes, you could make an hour long highlights show on all the play acting and simulation taking place, and these players should be members of actors equity.....its a bloody disgrace.......

Edited by batfink: 22/6/2010 08:31:04 AM

The only way we are going to win is if we start cheating. Don't bother tackling your man just hold your leg in agony. If Bresciano did these things Aus would have been playing 10 against 10 the other day. Don't worry about how it makes you feel or look it is good to win.

I had a look at the FIFA.com page where this "red mist" story comes from and to be honest it's not that bad. We got a couple of reds and we are angry about that, fair enough.

But there's certainly an anti-Australian prejudice out there when it comes to judging our "physical" style of play. It's becoming a bit of a self-fulfilling prophecy - foreign refs expect Aussies will play rough so they have their red cards ready. Not many realise that we've come a long way since 1974.

FFA needs to think about how this sterotype can be challenged. The best way would be for our lads to waltz into the quarter finals with some lovely, elegant football.

Of course, that's a bit hard when our best players keep getting sent off...

Most amazing spambot bump ever. :lol:

quite interesting to re-analyse such comments when the passage of time reveals some cold realities



94

Quality comment. One major tournament between that comment and now. The world is a very different place. We've now got electricity, telephones, the internet. Oh, wait a second, it was four fucking years ago.

Edited by Draupnir: 6/11/2014 08:31:11 PM

you remind me a lot of afrodope
similar gutter mouth and slow wit