Gang-ups on refs should be kicked out of Cup

The ultimate showcase for the beautiful game, the Fifa World Cup, is now in full swing. Already there have been some amazing performances. From the perspective of New Zealand, it’s been inspiring to see smaller footballing nations such as Iceland and Mexico performing so well against the giants of Argentina and Germany.

However, what has struck me about this World Cup isn’t the incredible goals and performances, it’s the intimidation and bullying that has been so apparent. And I’m not talking about the behaviour of a minority hooligan element amongst the fans. Thankfully, that has so far not manifested itself in Russia. No, what I’m talking about is the dissension, lack of respect and downright contempt that the world’s greatest players have shown to the referees.

Now footballers have always been famous for their on-field histrionics and theatrics. A foul tackle often sees the victimised player writhing on the pitch in unimaginable agony only to leap up two seconds after the referee has awarded the free kick or penalty. These kinds of performances have blighted the modern game for some time. We’ve become accustomed to seeing players behave in this way and are now so desensitised we’ve accepted them as part of the game.

What’s different about this World Cup, though, is the way the players gang up on the referee in response to a foul or a nasty tackle. Following the Oscar-winning theatrics, the referee often finds himself in the middle of a baying mob of players hell-bent on bullying and intimidating him into making a decision favourable to their team.

The disrespect shown to referees has been astonishing, especially when you contrast it with the behaviour of the rugby players in the recent series between the All Blacks and France. There were some dodgy refereeing decisions made at times and plenty of instances of bad play on both sides. The difference with rugby, however, was the deference shown to the referee whose decisions were largely calmly accepted by the players without the need for throwing their arms up in the air in righteous indignation.

Now this poor sportsmanship is bad enough in itself but it becomes so much worse when you see it being replicated in the performances of impressionable boys and girls. I saw its effects just last Saturday.

Sadly, it’s not the accurate passing, onetouch control or goal-scoring prowess of the world’s best footballers that’s influencing our kids on playing fields up and down the country. No, it’s the histrionics when things go wrong, the dissension and the back-chatting to the referee that we are seeing being played out.

And these behaviours extend to parents as well, who often find it hard to control their emotions even though ironically they are standing next to the massive sign that says, “These are kids, the coaches are volunteers, the referees are human, this is not the World Cup”.

If the beautiful game is to retain its status as the most popular and loved sport across the globe, then it’s time Fifa cleaned up its act. They have already done the impossible and got rid of the seemingly invincible Sepp Blatter and the stench of corruption that for so long was a stain on the game. They have also spent millions on goal-line technology and the new video assistant referee, but they’ve managed to overlook a fundamental aspect of the game which is fair play and respect for everyone on the field including the referee.

Rugby players are no doubt watching the football World Cup with a justifiable smugness. Deference to the match officials and team discipline is an integral part of rugby and the game is all the better for it.

So Fifa, it can be done. And we owe it to the next generation of Ronaldos and Messis, let alone the millions of worldwide supporters, to make sure that the beautiful game stays as just that, without the disrespectful, foul-mouthed prima donnas that have taken centre stage in Russia.

is a director of Write Solutions, a copywriting, editing and proofreading service.