15-day suspension for WHAT?

[kelliem]

Just ran across a news article which amused the heck out of me. Switzerland's Alexander Frei has been provisionally suspended by Uefa for 15 days pending an appeal for allegedly spitting at England's Steven Gerrard.

Spitting is a suspense-worthy event?

Good thing these guys aren't refereeing hockey. :)

Comments

[silme.livejournal.com]

Oh yeah. But the penalty for that isn't as bad as what happens when they make racist remarks against non-white players.

[kelliem.livejournal.com]

Well, making racist remarks would definitely be suspense-worth in my book-- but do I sense an implication that TPTB feel it's okay to make racist comments about white players? Though it's hard to imagine what that would be... "Hey You! You dance funny and have no sense of rhythm!"

[syven.livejournal.com]

On the radio this a.m., one of the broadcasters mentioned how the "hiphop" crowd is attempting to form their own political party to "get the stupid, white men out of WA".

Now, I'm not of the opinion that the majority of our elected officials are of high intellect but imagine if you will for just a moment if that phrase had been turned around uttered by a white man?

The double standard of racism is that it's perfectly okay for everyone to bash "white" people. I didn't pick the skin I was born in EITHER and frankly, I'm working my ass off to live in this world too so I don't care to be trivialized in such a blatantly inexcusable racist way.

- Paulette

[brynwulf]

Since I've started leaving the house around 5:45 a.m. for work, I've been catching the BBC news sports coverage that comes on NPR at 5:50 here. I get so tickled at how totally serious they take their cricket. Especially India!! So, this doesn't surprise me. Those guys over there don't know what real sports are.
*snerk*

[prudentia.livejournal.com]

*Very* late comment -- I'm catching up after several computerless days. But at least that's given me more time to watch the football!

I know it seems weird, but spitting at a fellow player is considered the ultimate sin. Far worse than a physical foul such as kicking, elbowing or shoving, it shows total disrespect for a fellow professional.

After their first match, Italy's most prolific striker, Francesco Totti, was banned for 3 games for spitting. I am sure this is one of the reasons why Italy made an unexpectedly early exit from the tournament yesterday.

(I'm a bit of a football geek. Come on England!)