In reaction to Martin Williams' article ("For the pampered Brazil, it's a time to lose friends," June 29, page 20) I would like to add the following comments about referee performance in the World Cup, and try to show some different perspectives regarding that problem.
When I was playing football in France, from youth categories to professional level, I would always see a very famous poster in each changing room of every stadium, which said: "The referee is a part of the game."
The poster was meant to remind us that referees are human beings, and that referee mistakes have the same influence on the result as when your team mate misses a penalty kick. We players are supposed to accept that.
On the other hand, winning a game is so important that I have been trained to use the humanity of the referee and turn it to my advantage. A few examples of what I have done and what we have also seen on TV:
First, looking at the referee with innocent eyes and holding both hands up in an "I did nothing" position, as your opponent is lying on the ground after you kicked him.
Second, putting your hands over your face when you have been kicked in the stomach.
Third, pulling your own shirt out of your shorts and showing the referee, blaming your opponent.
Fourth, catching your opponent's arm, making it look like he is holding you.
Fifth, always aiming at the 18m box with the ball because you have a good chance of being rewarded with a penalty.
Sixth, diving in style in the 18m box.
Seventh, one of my favorites: fill your opponent's eyes with Tiger Balm to blind him for the rest of the game (I swear, I have never been caught).
Eighth, the strategic one: the player that sacrifices himself for the team by going for the yellow card but making sure his opponent -- obviously the best player on the other team -- gets a good injury in return.
With 25 red and 306 yellow cards so far in the World Cup, referees have shown -- more or less successfully -- that they don't want to be cheated anymore. I believe that the referees, backed by FIFA instructions, are doing the right thing to upgrade the level of the game, and protect players even more.
Player behavior needs to change or we will see two referees on the pitch or video assistance. That is the real message that FIFA is sending.
Regarding Brazil, I share the disgust over poor referee performance, but I would not be so affirmative about referees protecting pedigree teams. South Korea in 2002 had no pedigree. It still remains true that referees might be subjected to subversive influences (I am not talking about recent Italian scandals here).
I once asked this question of Mr Arnault, an international linesman who officiated during the 2002 World Cup semifinal, Germany against South Korea. He told me something I believe to be true: he said that the South Koreans generated an impressive ambience in the stadium, but once the game started, he was so focused on his job that he completely forgot about the crowd for 90 minutes.
I would rather believe that mistakes are made by incompetent referees, rather than because of other factors.
But to change players' mentality will take a very long time ... even for me. Players, even in the World Cup, are still trying to cheat the referee and, of course, will provoke referee mistakes. This is certainly closer to the truth.
I wish to conclude with a story I always like to share: I was once awarded a free kick and my opponent a yellow card for a very bad tackle. I, of course, complained to the referee about the brutality of the other team. His answer was: "No need to argue with me, I didn't tackle you!"
David Camhi
Taipei
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