COLUMN: Stop with the diving in soccer
I’ll be the first to admit I’m not an avid soccer fan.
Like many in the country, I try and watch the World Cup every four years. I also followed the hysteria of David Beckham’s MLS debut a few years ago.
The lack of scoring is one. Who wants to watch a 1-0 or 0-0 game?
Look at hockey, for example. Its TV ratings are lower than any other of the major sports here in America. Low scores in games have a lot to do with that.
Secondly, and this irked me during the opening round of the World Cup, what type of sport is OK with ending a game in a tie?
Last time I checked, sports are a competition to prove which team is superior. You lose that competitive nature with ending a game in a tie. Hockey finally learned that and implemented the shootout during the regular season. People were sick of watching a game for 2.5 hours just for it to end in a tie.
But while watching the U.S. in this year’s World Cup, one thing stood out to me more than anything else: the excessive amount of diving.
How am I supposed to take the sport seriously when a player, clearly shown on replay, drops to the ground to fake an injury, sometimes without even being touched?
Now, I’m not saying that all soccer players that fall are wussies or pretending to be hurt. Like any other sport, injuries happen. It’s part of being an athlete. But to embellish a little contact just to draw a penalty card or stall play really compromises the integrity of the game.
During the U.S.’ elimination match, players for Ghana were dropping like flies during the final 10 minutes. I can only imagine how frustrated the American players were to have the game halted as trainers for Ghana took their sweet time walking out on the field with a stretcher in an effort to stall play and waste time.
Yet, every World Cup I see it happen more and more, with the referees standing idly by. To their credit, most don’t fall for it. But something more needs to be done.
Implement a stopped clock. Instruct officials to become stricter with penalty cards, especially toward the end of a match. Do something.
Just stop with the diving. Maybe more Americans will take the game seriously then.
