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If you're relatively new to football, you may not remember what we used to call the "cloggers" in the UK, players who were specifically tasked with going around

If you're relatively new to football, you may not remember what we used to call the "cloggers" in the UK, players who were specifically tasked with going around and injuring opposing team members with violent tackles. (Although if you're a Man U fan you may remember someone called Roy Keane...?) The pendulum has probably swung too far in the opposite direction but, for example, Maradona had his ankle broken in a famously bad tackle by Goikoetxea, a player notorious for doing this, and he wasn't banned for many matches: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Wqi3z-3VXo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Wqi3z-3VXo (warning - includes slow-motion footage of the ankle break near the beginning). Given a choice between these things, I'll take the diving, and hope for more retrospective punishments for diving in the future.

NoOneNew 6y ago
I started caring in 04 I think. There was a huge soccer/football push at the time in the states. A dedicated soccer channel even sprang up. I think I remember the whole excessive injury thing brought up a few times, but that's over 15 years ago. I think it was the season after the 06 cup, someone did a really blatant dive. I could swear Ronaldo, but he's dived a lot, so not sure. Anyways, it was during a huge string of dives in the league and I just thought to hell with the sport. I get it, there's a want to avoid injuries. I respect that. Rewarding stupidity and blatant cheating was beyond a pendulum swing. Retro punishments isnt enough. It has to be consistent red card, ejected from the game, multi game ban if you're going to fix the image of the sport. Also, cant remember what it's called, but when they intentionally kick a ball into an opposing player so it bounces off them, then out of bounds so they can get a throw in. Yea, that I hate too. I watched a 70s MU vs Liverpool game, none of that shit was going on. Just a pure game. I think that was when I was becoming disillusioned with the sport, because I saw how it used to be played... like an actual fucking sport. Maybe The Code from hockey needs to leak into soccer/football. That's a better way to fix diving and injuring strikers. Put the beat down on that player, continue the game. Itll sort itself out eventually. Until then, I'll choose a sport that has itself sorted out.

NoOneNew 6y ago

I started caring in 04 I think. There was a huge soccer/football push at the time in the states. A dedicated soccer channel even sprang up. I think I remember the whole excessive injury thing brought up a few times, but that's over 15 years ago. I think it was the season after the 06 cup, someone did a really blatant dive. I could swear Ronaldo, but he's dived a lot, so not sure. Anyways, it was during a huge string of dives in the league and I just thought to hell with the sport. I get it, there's a want to avoid injuries. I respect that. Rewarding stupidity and blatant cheating was beyond a pendulum swing. Retro punishments isnt enough. It has to be consistent red card, ejected from the game, multi game ban if you're going to fix the image of the sport. Also, cant remember what it's called, but when they intentionally kick a ball into an opposing player so it bounces off them, then out of bounds so they can get a throw in. Yea, that I hate too. I watched a 70s MU vs Liverpool game, none of that shit was going on. Just a pure game. I think that was when I was becoming disillusioned with the sport, because I saw how it used to be played... like an actual fucking sport. Maybe The Code from hockey needs to leak into soccer/football. That's a better way to fix diving and injuring strikers. Put the beat down on that player, continue the game. Itll sort itself out eventually. Until then, I'll choose a sport that has itself sorted out.