FIFA’s fair play rule is anything but fair

When FIFA, soccer’s world governing body, adopted a curious tiebreaking formula for the 2018 World Cup, I imagine no one could have predicted the immediate ramifications it would have.

The arrival of “VAR” (video assistant referee) was certainly expected to create some controversy – and in a few instances through the group stages of the tournament, it did. But much of the talk after the final group stage games on Thursday was about the new “Fair Play” rule.

It didn’t take long for what seemed coming in to be a fairly innocuous initiative to have a massive impact on destiny of two national teams.

Put simply, because of the Fair Play rule, Japan advanced to the knockout stage, while Senegal goes home. Both teams finished tied for second in their group with four points apiece. The teams also finished tied on goal difference, most goals scored, points from head-to-head games (they played to a tie) and most goals scored in all matches (each team scored four goals).

So that meant the Fair Play rule would decide which team got the second berth to the knockout stage from the group.

Senegal accumulated six yellow cards (cautions), while Japan had only four. Neither team picked up a red card (ejection). So Japan advanced.

Interestingly, the final tiebreaker used is a “drawing of lots” that was utilized in 1990, which gave Ireland second place in the group stage over Holland. But with the 24-team format in place at the time, both teams advanced to the knockout stage anyway. No harm, no foul.

Regardless, there has to be a better way. Especially when it is the difference between advancing and seeing a country’s World Cup dreams come crashing down.

The Fair Play rule is anything but fair and the main reason for me are the inconsistencies in the way referees apply the rules.

There has always been a grey area on what constitutes a yellow card and what doesn’t. It’s really quite subjective. A red card is a bit more cut-and-dried, but once again, it’s still in the hands and judgment of the individual official.

Sometimes a game starts with some bite and the referee will start flashing cards just to keep a lid on the proceedings. Another game may start out tame and the odd foul may have resulted in a booking in a more full-blooded affair results in the referee simply “having a word” with the offender.

So a card often comes down to circumstance as opposed to actual dangerous play or dissent.

Interestingly, the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) has used the disciplinary points rule for several years, though to my knowledge it has never had anything close to this kind of impact.

FIFA introduced it in 2016 and this is the first time it has been used in a World Cup.

Also fascinating is the fact England and Belgium went into their final Group G game on Thursday with the possibility the Fair Play rule could decide who finishes in first place in their group.

Since both teams qualified for the knockout stage regardless, it wasn’t as critical. Belgium rendered it a moot point by winning 1-0 to top the group. Whatever the solution is to breaking a tie in this instance with Japan and Senegal, this is not it.

Since both teams are in the same group and situated close to each other in Russia during the tournament, why not at the very least gather the teams on a pitch somewhere and conduct a penalty kick shootout?

The shootout isn’t popular either, but it’s something that does happen on a frequent basis and I think a losing team could somewhat rationalize going out in that manner more than with the Fair Play rule.

ROUND OF 16 PICKS: The knockout stage starts Saturday with France playing Argentina, and Uruguay facing Portugal.

Here are my picks for the round: France 2 Argentina 0; Uruguay 2 Portugal 1; Spain 4 Russia 1; Croatia 2 Denmark 0; Brazil 2 Mexico 1; Sweden 2 Switzerland 1; England 3 Colombia 1; Belgium 3 Japan 0.

VEES TAKING SHAPE: We’re just arriving at the final few days of June and the Penticton Vees are already looking loaded for bear for the 2018-19 BCHL season.

While several envious teams in the league no doubt enjoyed seeing the Vees bow out in the second round of the playoffs, all it did was give GM/head coach Fred Harbinson and his staff extra motivation — not to mention more time — to piece together yet another quality team for 2018-19.

Let’s not forget the Vees won the regular season crown again in 2017-18, not to mention winning a seventh straight Interior Division pennant. Only an unprecedented run of injuries to key players curtailed the run to a playoff title.

Opposing teams shouldn’t count on that happening again this year. Those type of tough breaks have a way of evening themselves out and the Vees are well overdue for a season of reasonably good health.

Methinks it’s going to be a fun season for junior hockey fans at the SOEC.

David Crompton is a sports reporter at the Penticton Herald.