World Cup 2010

[SMR 368]

I like soccer and enjoy watching and playing it. But after watching the Slovenia-USA game I lost a lot of respect for FIFA. The officiating was atrocious and FIFA's only response is to pretend it didn't happen (the FIFA highlights reel doesn't contain the goal that got called back and the comments section on the game appears to have been edited to contain no mention of the event. I see no other explanation as to how hundreds of people could comment on the game and not mention it while it's the main point in most news stories about the game). The game could certainly benefit from instant replay or at least from some more officials on the field.

I also lost a lot of respect for soccer fans and commentators as people talked about unpredictable officiating as part of the game and something that makes it more exciting. If I wanted to watch something where the rules change arbitrarily in real time, I'd watch Survivor. I was hoping for a sport (which soccer is as long as you have someone besides FIFA in charge).

[Susita 175]

Yeah my husband was pissed at that. I think I saw steam come out of his ears.

[Amby 490]

wimbledon coverage is on all day today. I guess the bbc decided england was ####### and they're showing tennis now

[_Simpson_ 250]

America just can't handle to see a 90 minute game in just about that time. Seemingly, Americans need time to "digest" every piece of action during a game thus spending 3+ hours to watch 60 minutes of actual game time. And there are no commercials during a soccer game. Oh, the horror...

Your a American, no?

Part of the reason it takes so long is because of instant reply, something that IMO should be implemented in Soccer.

Football is a great sport, you should give it a chance.

Edited June 22, 2010 by _Simpson_

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Your a American, no?

Part of the reason it takes so long is because of instant reply, something that IMO should be implemented in Soccer.

Football is a great sport, you should give it a chance.

Yes, I am American by naturalization. Ditching one's preference for soccer in favor of the more American sports isn't one of the naturalization requirements so I am hanging on to my preference for viewing the actual match rather than going for a 1/3 match and 2/3 ####### split.

I'd have to disagree on the instant replay deal - it takes the flow out of the game and hence the fun out of watching.

Finally, I did give football a chance. When the Houston Oilers came to Nashville to become the Tennessee Titans, I tried to enjoy a football season but just couldn't get much fun out of it. For the World Cup, on the other hand, I actually brought a portable TV to the office to catch the games. Watching Mexico - Uruguay right now.

[The_Dude 1,142]

Your a American, no?

Part of the reason it takes so long is because of instant reply, something that IMO should be implemented in Soccer.

Football is a great sport, you should give it a chance.

Sorry Simpson, but that is about the worst idea i've heard regarding football (soccer) in a long time. You clearly don't understand how the game is played.

[_Simpson_ 250]

Yes, I am American by naturalization. Ditching one's preference for soccer in favor of the more American sports isn't one of the naturalization requirements so I am hanging on to my preference for viewing the actual match rather than going for a 1/3 match and 2/3 ####### split.

I was not suggesting you should ditch your preference. I was addressing your generalization of America. Just wanted to remind you that even though your not a big fan of this country you are still a american.

I'd have to disagree on the instant replay deal - it takes the flow out of the game and hence the fun out of watching.

Lets agree to disagree. What about more refs, would you be for that?

[_Simpson_ 250]

Sorry Simpson, but that is about the worst idea i've heard regarding football (soccer) in a long time. You clearly don't understand how the game is played.

Well sure I do. Horrible calls can go uncontested. What about more refs on the field, would you be for that?

[The_Dude 1,142]

Seriously, how much football do you watch per year Simpson? Do you follow it enough that you could say that you even have a club that you support? Instant replay is beyond a horrible idea. More officials is a good idea to a point, even then, it becomes an issue with disrupting the flow of the game.

[_Simpson_ 250]

Seriously, how much football do you watch per year Simpson? Do you follow it enough that you could say that you even have a club that you support? Instant replay is beyond a horrible idea. More officials is a good idea to a point, even then, it becomes an issue with disrupting the flow of the game.

I mentioned earlier in this thread that I only watch soccer when it comes to the world cup. Its a huge event on a world stage. Same with swimming, I only watch it when the Olympics come around.

Having horrible calls go uncontested is a horrible idea. One ref on the field of play is not enough IMO. There should at least be more refs.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

I was not suggesting you should ditch your preference. I was addressing your generalization of America. Just wanted to remind you that even though your not a big fan of this country you are still a american.

I am a big fan of this country - it's why I chose to build my life here. I'm just not a big fan of it's sports or how they've all been commercialized beyond recognition. Seriously, when it takes more than 3 hours to get through an hour worth of play time, something got off track. Even a born and bred American ought to be able to see that.

Lets agree to disagree. What about more refs, would you be for that?

Not really. The ref would have to be somewhere in the vicinity of the where the ball is played. How many refs can you possibly have running with the ball without disturbing the game itself? Bad calls are made from to time. Some are rather inconsequential, some are moderately bad - such as sending players off unwarrented (Cahill and Kaka would be good examples here) and some are outrageously bad - disallowing the third goal for the US in the game against Slovenia was such. And yet, what, aside from more disagreement on such calls, would another referee really accomplish? Soccer has been played with a single referree on the field for ages and people continue to enjoy the games.

[IndigoSkies 168]

I'm watching the FIFA article in ISL. It's kind of... I don't know.... something... :|

[_Simpson_ 250]

I am a big fan of this country - it's why I chose to build my life here. I'm just not a big fan of it's sports or how they've all been commercialized beyond recognition. Seriously, when it takes more than 3 hours to get through an hour worth of play time, something got off track. Even a born and bred American ought to be able to see that.

I have my doubts.

Sure I could do with less commercials but the game itself makes it well worth it.

Not really. The ref would have to be somewhere in the vicinity of the where the ball is played. How many refs can you possibly have running with the ball without disturbing the game itself? Bad calls are made from to time. Some are rather inconsequential, some are moderately bad - such as sending players off unwarrented (Cahill and Kaka would be good examples here) and some are outrageously bad - disallowing the third goal for the US in the game against Slovenia was such. And yet, what, aside from more disagreement on such calls, would another referee really accomplish? Soccer has been played with a single referree on the field for ages and people continue to enjoy the games.

Six eyes are better than than two. The soccer field is big enough that I think a few more refs on the field wouldn't interfere with the game.

Sure bad calls can be made from time to time but when your talking about a game that is often won by one goal I think its very important to make sure that horrible calls are not made.

[Mr. Big Dog 10,747]

Six eyes are better than than two. The soccer field is big enough that I think a few more refs on the field wouldn't interfere with the game.

Whatever it takes to get in commercial time, eh? If the referrees don't agree, take a time out for a referree conference and a vote while we get to watch ####### commercials? Or maybe we spread referrees out over the field but then what would a game with a number of ref's look like? Ref A handing out yellow cards like there's no tomorrow as the guy that referreed GER/SRB did and another who doesn't really bother handing out any like the guy that referreed DEN/CMR? How would that be any more fair and how would that make the game any more enjoyable? Face it, soccer is enjoyed just as it is and it would lose far more fans if it were Americanized than it would gain. Let's not turn soccer into another nightmare sport to watch like American football or baseball.

[Usui Takumi 1,562]

Just so you know, US football is long because of clock management not instant replays. Instant replays only add 5-6 minutes to a game because they are limited.