cynical

[Sandy Lane]

Am I getting cynical about international sports?  We've seen it in the Olympics for decades now where the judges don't use merit on the current performance, but rather merit plus, if the athlete has paid their 'dues'...  Is this the overall tenet of the games?   I may be naive, but I never thought so.  Yet it persists.  Hmmm, maybe I'm just growing up!  

And I know I'm a new-comer to football, but over and over in this WC I see blatant instances where questionable yellow cards and yes, disallowed goals, can be nothing more than the 'right'  or deserving country progressing.  I just saw it during the Italy game where NZ had scored(!!) and then, oops, there was a slight tug on an Italian shirt (which was nothing!-- where was this ref during the Eng v. USA game?), and sure enough it was enough for a free kick -- and wonder of wonders, an equalizing goal for Italy!  I just value fairness for everyone, yet it never happens...

Rant over.  Just hope that this is enough to make the teams on the wrong end of the decision fight harder!

[danumdon]

If you want to talk about fairness and consistency you have chosen the wrong game to do so.

It was obvious to me 5000 miles away that the New Zealand goal was offside, what were the officials looking at!!

Do the Italians not deserve to have fairness and consistency or is it just because they happen to be the reigning world champions.

There was only one team trying to win that match,if it had been a dogfight they would of put the Kiwies down in the middle of the pitch.

We all know two wrongs don't make a right but i would say many more teams at this world cup have stronger cases to make about some of the referring decisions. Swings and roundabouts as they say, and usually the cream rises to the top.