- Joined
- May 8, 2002
- Posts
- 397,333
- Reaction score
- 43
You must be registered for see images attach
Spitting by players is one of the things that annoys Telegraph readers - Getty Images
Telegraph Sport’s Thom Gibbs shared his top 10 gripes about modern football on Monday, including left-field kick-off times, toxic fandom, stadium music and pedantic refereeing.
In response, Telegraph readers shared their frustrations via the comments section and by responding to the Telegraph Football Newsletter – with VAR topping the list.
In our exclusive Telegraph poll, the majority of voters believed VAR was the worst thing about football today.
Read on for other causes of frustration.
‘VAR is the worst thing that’s happened in my 85-year-old life’
Readers were largely in agreement about VAR. Neil Cumins said: “Many years ago, I predicted VAR would kill the spectacle of football. I haven’t watched a Premier League game since it was introduced. What’s the point when goals can’t be celebrated?”
Jane Lindsay-Green said: “The lack of excitement when a goal is scored because of VAR checks kills the passion and enjoyment of watching live football.”
Vincent Saunders was equally unimpressed: “VAR is the worst thing that has happened in my 85-year-old life. Players are allowed to make mistakes, otherwise goals would never be scored, yet referees are expected to be perfect. Why? I know football is now a business rather than a sport. I find the product far less entertaining to watch. Inevitably once you allow a VAR to be involved he will want to be making decisions in a studio many miles removed from the action to justify his existence. Classic example of tail wagging the dog and unaccountable to anyone on the day.”
‘Spitting on TV sets a bad example for children’
Many readers condemned antisocial behaviour, such as spitting, and agreed that it was unprofessional.
Christopher Moniz called out the “so-called elite sportsmen” for “spitting and blowing their noses directly on to the pitch in front of TV cameras”. He said “it is setting a bad example to children, some of whom mimic them on the streets”.
In a similar vein, Mike Laugher suggested “an immediate red card” for coaches who spit in the dugout. “They stand still for ninety minutes, so why do they need to spit?” he insisted.
‘Why bother having a touchline at all?’
Others expressed disgust about the level of foul play and misconduct seen on the pitch.
Of foul throws, Rob Taylor said: “Every game will have at least half a dozen throws with the player’s foot over the line. You see it every weekend especially when someone adds a run-up.
“Worse are the ones with a whole foot over and sometimes the ‘lino’ will be a couple of yards to the side of the player and not even notice. Why bother having a touchline at all?”
P.A. Cuddy added “shirt pulling and wrestling” to the list. “The referee sets the bar. Where in the laws does it say that is OK? Either apply the laws or amend them.”
Echoing this view, Brian Dyson said: “Blatant foul play that takes place at almost every corner kick; players wrapping their arms around an opponent; blocking another player’s run and the referees ignoring it.”
Nigel Bleach, a self-proclaimed Spurs fan for “50 frustrating years”, shared via the football newsletter: “Routine blocking of quick free kicks by players standing one to two metres from the ball without being booked. It slows the game and penalises the attacking team. Book them all – as per kicking the ball away.”
Also shared via the football newsletter, by Rod Beatson, was the “propensity for professionals to ‘take a dive’ when, irrespective of the merits, they think they can fool the referee. This is not a new phenomenon, but it has got a lot worse”.
‘I can’t think of another sport where professionals feign injury’
A number of readers, such as John Smith, bemoaned players faking injuries during games: “The tactics are boring, the players diving and crying out in pain at every little touch.”
In agreement, Damon Laws said: “I can’t think of another sport where professionals feign injury.
“Grown men rolling around the floor like they’ve been shot in the knee. Then they mysteriously pop up full of beans when they realise play has not been stopped and the ball is coming their way.”
Iain Saville has noticed “the fake head injury ploy becoming more common – and is quite effective at killing momentum of the match”.
You must be registered for see images attach
In 2021, Mohamed Salah latched onto Ruben Dias’ error and went down under the defender’s challenge - Getty Images/Bradley Ormesher
‘Take the incentive out of wasting time’
Readers also expressed disapproval of time wasters.
Iain Saville proposed having a “dedicated timekeeper” to keep the game moving. “Stop the clock for VAR decisions and take the incentive out of wasting time,” he suggested. “Time is never fully recompensed at the end of matches.”
Graham Crossland, via the football newsletter, weighed in: “Goal celebrations – the obligatory knee slide followed by the whole team gathering in a corner of the pitch. At least two minutes wasted, referees seem to condone it. It happens at National League level, too!”
Another reader of the football newsletter, John Gasper, similarly disapproved of “over-the-top goal celebrations which go on for ever”.
Deciding golf was more his cup of tea, Ivan Blake wrote: “Football is slowly becoming unbearable and unwatchable. I doubt I’ll ever go to Old Trafford again.”
Broaden your horizons with award-winning British journalism. Try The Telegraph free for 1 month with unlimited access to our award-winning website, exclusive app, money-saving offers and more.
Continue reading...
