12/21/24
March 18, 2003
Diouf escapes with two-match UEFA ban for spitting at Celtic supporters.: Brian Reade a tabloid journalist clearly believes it isn't enough. Lorenzo Amouroso of Glasgow Rangers picks up a four match ban for a similar offence, whilst Christophe Dugarry appears likely to be banned for spitting soon. A worrying trend in British football but nothing new as this history of misconduct reveals. Personally, I can think of little that is more disgusting than spitting at your opponent. Are these bans enough and does this happen in other sports?
Can I change one word? Personally, I can think of little that is more demeaning than spitting at your opponent. Although there may be other things more unsportsmanlike, spitting is definitely near the top of the list. It may not physically injure (which makes it less serious than the things you mentioned worldcup), but it is usually intended to humiliate and it should have no place in sports. [embarrassing personal story] In high school while playing club soccer, I was engaged in a fierce physical battle with the opposing center midfielder. As I was jogging toward the sidelines to position myself for a throw-in, I heard him spit, followed one second later by a light touch on the back of my shirt. I immediately turned and spat directly into the face of the opposing player and began to step towards him. His cries of "Ref, ref!" slowed me however, and when the referee reached us, I explained that I had spat in the other player's face in retaliation. After showing him the back of my shirt, the referee looked at me blankly and said there was nothing that he could see, followed by a warning to both of us to cool our tempers. I should have been issued an immediate red card, but was left instead with simply a red face. [/embarrassing personal story]
posted by pfuller at 03:29 PM on March 18, 2003
pfuller chose the word I wasn't able to find. As an amateur footballer I was headbutted, two-footed challenged, stamped on, punched as well as elbowed in the face and the ribs. However, the moment that stands out most for me was when a bloke spat at me after a game when I went to shake hands. I walked away from it, because on top of him being a psychopath he was much bigger and harder than me. It still makes me angry, the way the other misdemeanours didn't. As for "fan misbehavior". Pffft. Part of the game. ;-)
posted by squealy at 06:10 PM on March 18, 2003
In a belated, vito90-like, fit of honesty, I feel I should admit I was drunk when I made that last comment. Fan misbehaviour at football games is, of course, a serious issue.
posted by squealy at 04:20 AM on March 19, 2003
Fan misbehaviour is indeed a serious issue, but I don't think we should expect players to act like automatons and not respond to serious provocation. Fair play to Diouff, why should any player be expected to put up with dogs abuse from morons and turn the the other cheek, they are athletes, not candidates for the priesthood. Players should attack fans more often, in my hapless opinion of course.
posted by Fat Buddha at 08:07 AM on March 19, 2003
Welcome back FB. Always good to have your opinion, hapless or otherwise. From what I saw of the incident with Diouf it was good-natured. Someone patted him on the top of the head, nowt wrong with that IMHO. I was, to coin a phrase, gob-smacked when he turned round and gobbed at them. Of course, we don't know what, if anything, was said to him, but if it was by a Glaswegian, surely he wouldn't have understood it anyway.
posted by squealy at 08:18 AM on March 19, 2003
I think Diouf said he was scared when someone in the crowd smacked him in the back of the head, and he reacted w/o thinking. It's fair to say that it's not a problem when someone you know does that to you, but not necessarily when you've fallen into a pack of people you don't know. Cut him some slack. And welcome back, FB! I missed you. How was Sandy Balls? And your computer? Good I hope.
posted by worldcup2002 at 09:16 AM on March 19, 2003
Re: spitting in other sports. I'm sure the first thing that pops into a lot of people's minds is Roberto Alomar spitting in the umpire's face back in 1996 (scroll down to Oct. 3). Several days ago, Baltimore Oriole secondbaseman Roberto Alomar spit in homeplate umpire John Hirschbeck's face. Alomar was angry at a strike call made by the umpire. A war of words ensued. It has not been disclosed what Mr. Hirschbeck said to Mr. Alomar, but there is some indication that it might have been a racist slur. However, to our knowledge, the provocative comment has not yet been made public. In any case, Mr. Alomar did spit in Mr. Hirschbeck's face. The league initially gave Alomar a two game suspension, but later reduced it to one game.
posted by Ufez Jones at 10:13 AM on March 19, 2003
I think Diouf said he was scared when someone in the crowd smacked him in the back of the head NOBODY spits at someone when they are afraid...thats a crock! Anyway, i like Diouf, he just shouldn't have spit i guess. I don't know what i would do...but i agree with what a person above said. Players should attack fans more often...
posted by StarFucker at 10:31 AM on March 19, 2003
OK, OK. He got a UEFA ban, a Liverpool fine, and apologized publicly. He said he was wrong. Chill out. Hooooooockkkk ....
posted by worldcup2002 at 12:16 PM on March 19, 2003
Personally, I can think of little that is more disgusting than spitting at your opponent. Are you kidding? Spitting is bloody ugly (and insanitary) but I can think of many worse things. What about head-butting? Going in with both feet up? Stamping on an opponent who's already down? And what about fan misbehavior? Are these bans enough and does this happen in other sports? I think the bans are enough. As for other sports, I'm sure others will chime in.