The Pussyfication Of Football

John Nicholson's most recent blog entry on Football365 has struck a chord with me. A blog entry I 100% wholeheartedly agree with, the growing (in his words) 'Pussyfication' of football. The game that was once the domain of tough tackling defenders, combative fiery midfielders & all elbow strikers is slowly being moulded by the suits of UEFA & FIFA. Those set suits orchestrated by controversial band leader in chief Michel Platini, seem intent on turning football into their dreamy utopia version. Of stringent rule-abiding, a big peaceful love in, of taking the contact aspect out of the sport completely.

Saturday's game between Man U and the Arsenal was the prime example of the growing Pussyfication in the beautiful game. The normally sedate Arsene Wenger being sent to the stands for the heinous crime of kicking a water bottle. The over anal 4th official doing his best impression of a squealer in secondary school, by rushing to alert the referee to Arsene's bold behaviour.

1) The introduction of the 'technical area'; There's nothing technical about the technical area, it is a pointless coral within which to contain a prowling, manager. What a pathetic invention. Why do we need to contain a manager?

This brings to mind one of Sky's recent HD ad's. In it, Jose Mourinho describes how in the heat of the moment, he left his 'technical area' to control a loose ball and kick it back into play. Again for this crime against humanity, the special one was sent-off, just utter nonsense.

2) Football had thrived without a fourth official for over 120 years, but the pussyfication-merchants couldn't resist adding some more officialdom to the game. So now the fourth official is a permanent fixture, forever being shouted at by managers and looking like a spare p***k at a wedding - his sole job to add extra wankery to the game and hold up a board.

3) It seems that some managers are being treated like children by the overzealous officials. Nicholson makes the point that in the past; 'No manager ever got sent off, none was reprimanded for inappropriate behaviour; in short, he behaved like and was treated like a grown man.'

- Being critical of a referee or almost anything else incurs a fine for 'bringing the game into disrepute'. What happened the right to free speech?. Although some managers do indeed go over the top in criticising referees. If he thinks the ref is useless or corrupt, let him say so. We can then decide for ourselves if he's right or if he's a paranoid idiot.

4) "Over-zealous celebrating" - This one really gets on my goat. Players have been punished with an instant yellow card for taking their shirts off to celebrate. I mean what the offence? Showing your nipples, belly button, chest hair, natty tattoo to the public. What in the name of all that is holy is wrong with a player whipping off his shirt after scoring a cracker/emotional goal? Absolutely nothing. NONSENSE!

5) Players have been punished for hard but fair play. The days of winning the ball through a hard but fair challenge seem to be numbered. If a player nowadays say slides in from the back and wraps one leg around the player in front, felling him but at the same time clearly winning the ball, he will instantly be punished, by either a yellow or an over-reactionary red card.

I mean the fans want to see those challenges, it shows them that the players are giving their all for the club. I remember watching the community shield and marvelling at a hard tackle by Evra on Ballack, a real determined tackle that dropped Ballack and robbed him of possession. How was this awarded by the ref a free-kick to Chelsea? Later in the same game Ballack clearly elbowed Evra in the face, on route to creating a goal for Chelsea, he got away scot-free.

Real fans don't want to see the passion taken out of the game; there needs to be an easing off these over officious rules, more common sense needs to be applied again, the 'manliness' needs to be put back into the sport.