I’m Canadian and share the UK disdain for North American football’s “1 hour game stretched out to a 4 hour 5 second increment stutter fest”. I also share the European distaste for the self inflamed “World Series of Baseball”. What is that about?

Soccer is truly a finesse game played by gifted athletes. But take a minute and look at your game objectively.

The greatest thing about the greatest games on earth is that the player plays his opposition. It appears that in all soccer games, players have two opponents. They not only play the opposition colors, but they play the referee as well.

When a soccer player is brushed by an opponent and he falls down writhing in pain like he just took a .50 caliber round or stepped on a land mine until the 3 medics run on the field to cart them off on a stretcher with a wool blankie is an embarrassment to everything called “sports”. This is playing the referee and makes whiners of all soccer players – yes, I said all.

Other times the player could run on but he elects to fall down in contact. This is more common and equally contemptible. When this happens, the player looks to the referee as if it’s illegal for an opponent to contest his possession. Croquet would be a more appropriate game for such a pouter.

I saw two changes of possession in a row in one of the England matches. Both players fought their hearts out and took raked calves and shins in stride. They played on. How enjoyable to see such highly gifted athletes struggle through opposition. Then on the 3rd change of possession, the player stepped on a land mine instead of face the opposition like a man and begged a call from the referee. The diving resumed full force. For crying out loud! Make them stop and get back to their talent!

There are times the players are truly hurt, but the referee needs to insist they play on or get off the field. For sure, there is vicious antagonism at times. But the embellishment corrupts the nature of the game. The opponent’s purpose is to resist. Complaining when an opponent does so ruins everything for some of these most gifted athletes in the world.

Here’s an example. I watched a player get carted off on a stretcher when another player stepped on his arm. What the? As a referee, I have never had a player taken off a field by stretcher when hurt during a rugby or hockey game. I cannot convey how detestable this is for all men who love competition and enjoy real sports and the nature of the real challenge of playing through opposition. Pain is part of it. If he had to leave, he could have walked off. Soccer has all the potential of being a sport, but is at best an “activity”.

It’s inherent in the game. It’s the rules. The officials have no authority to punish whining. I officiate rugby and hockey, and remind the captains before the game that I expect the players to play each other, not me. When they do, I penalize them for diving or unsportsmanlike conduct. I remind them, “this is not soccer” at which point they sheepishly nod in agreement feeling my point inherently and return to play like men. The result is more often than not, a return to a contest of skill and desire, not tattle-telling or bawling. Give the officials the authority to penalize players for playing the referee and the game becomes one of the best on earth.

This makes soccer a great game for women and children - but not men who understand the true nature of sport. Whiners. Change the rules, empower the referee, and it becomes one of the greatest games on earth with ebb and flow and demonstrations of skill and fitness.

Yah, I guess you are right. I did not look at the chart really. My apologies. :)

Nice one, you probably got your lens cleared — as in http://soccerlens.com :)

The current world cup already has 87 goals scored (see chart here: http://soccerlens.com/top-scoring-clubs-at-the-2006-world-cup/)…on course to put in another 100? I doubt it.