Thursday, May 04, 2006

What if you are the footballer?

I was not in the mood to talk about the Sunderland game for many reasons. To begin with, the game was largely dull despite the 3-0 scoreline. I can tell you that I love the Cesc's goal but then it was not enough to compensate for the loss of Diaby in the second half. I have read numerous articles on that tackle, and the comments made by fellow gooners and the attempt by Sunderland fans to defend Dan Smith.

To be fair, I do think that Sunderland are never a dirty side. I've never seen them counting on the tactic Bolton use to win games. I've also never seen them use players such as Savage to survive. I might be wrong but I do feel that Dan Smith's tackle was very much a desperate attempt rather than a planned assault. I don't know the lad but I can't see him planning it the way Roy Keane planned his revenge. Yes there were many reckless tackles in the second half but when you are playing a game against a top side that makes you look like a bunch of useless footballers, I think the frustation level can sometimes be unbearable. Naturally, they would turn physical.

The fact that you don't get much punishment for fouling Arsenal players nowadays make it even more tempting. So what if they are redcarded? Their season is finished anyway.

That's the most I can think of on behalf of Sunderland.

BUT... the way Dan Smith came out to apologise was RIDICULOUS! His heartless comment took away any sympathy I have for the young lad. He seemed to think that it was just a reckless tackle that often happen. He seemed to think that the injury Diaby had was down to his own bad luck rather than the tackle. He seemed to feel that it is just normal for footballer to suffer injuries, even if that is an injury that could threaten the player's career. I just wonder what he will say if he is the one who was tackled. Can he come out and tell Diaby that he doesn't blame Diaby because it is the risk of being footballer?

My goodness.. I feel that people begin to confuse footballer with gladiator. Look, I was not happy when Diaby broke Campo's foot despite him playing for Bolton. I will not be happy to see any Arsenal player break someone else's leg no matter what the circumstances are. Even if we are 1-1 against Barcelona in the CL final with 10 minutes to go, I still think it is wrong to do such thing. These footballers are human. They are paid ridiculous wages, yes. But still, they are human.

I can accept it when someone is injured accidentally. But Dan Smith's case was never accidental. He probably did not know such tackle could cause such serious injury but he surely knew that he was going for the player's legs rather than the ball.

Of course the Roy Keane's planned revenge was even more unacceptable. That's why I would never want him to play for Arsenal even when he was available for free few months ago. Such people should just become martial artists rather than footballer.

While I think it's wrong to target Sunderland as a club, I do think that FA has to do something about this. A solid rule has to be defined to avoid such incidents in the future. Should Gilberto intentionally break *cough* Drogba's legs in the future, I would still condemn him. A heavy fine and serious ban should be imposed so that the players would think more than twice before they attempt such assault.

And please, for the other clubs' fans that bring up the van Nistelrooy's incident in an attempt to justify Dan Smith's tackle, you are just not making sense. You are just as vain as the FA. What did Keown and co. do to van Nistelrooy? Did they break his leg? It was ugly, yes. I never said that Arsenal are the most disciplined side ever, with no bad record whatsoever. But that shouting and pat on van Nistelrooy's back and even the pizza throwing are nothing compared to a situation where a young man's career is threatened in such a way.

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