Conference trucks::football;1

>Did you see.....?
	No I didn't see it, but it was certainly bad. The culprit was 
	Basile BOLI...
	
	I guess nothing will happen as for a couple previous instances of
	blattant faults, let's just remind 2 of them:
		- Harald SCHUMACHER against BATTISTON
		- GASCOIGNE (last year's FA cup final)
	And don't tell me one is better/worse, all such instances need to be
	strongly discouraged!
		
	What do you expect! Too many players have already got away with pretty
	bad behaviour on the field, I'm sure it is not getting any better in
	the next few years.
	
	During past world cup, certain blattant faults were greeted with red
	cards (tackling from behind on a player which was clearly through),
	this helped calm a couple of people down, but as we saw this evening
	again, that's already history.....
	
								.Andre.

    A few years ago, Paul Davis (Arsenal) was banned for a number of games
    for landing an upper cut on a Coventry player (Glenn Cockerill I believe)
    and breaking his jaw.
    
    His guilt was proven by the use of the ITV television replay.
    
    Can anyone explain why EUFA refuse to accept a video taped replay of
    the Boli incident??
    
    PJ
    
    
    

>>    A few years ago, Paul Davis (Arsenal) was banned for a number of games
>>    for landing an upper cut on a Coventry player (Glenn Cockerill I believe)
>>    and breaking his jaw.

Don't mean to split hairs but The game was between Southampton & Arsenal.

Personally I feel that the amount of "cheating" ( for wont of another word ) is
beginning to get out of hand. I don't agree with the idea of stopping games to 
let the ref look at an action replay, but if players try and get away with
actions such as Boli against Pearce, then I'm all in favour of a post match
review by a panel from the governing body.

The actions taken by the F.A. against Davies & Saunders were totally justified in
my opinion, and if players know that there could be "Trial by television" then
maybe they'd think twice before elbowing an opponent, pushing the ball over an
oncoming Goalie into the net with his hand, or tripping over air to get a
penalty.

	Al

> and if players know that there could be "Trial by television" then
> maybe they'd think twice before...................................
> ...............................tripping over air to get a penalty.

Thus effectively ending the career of one Jurgen Klinsman. 8^)

barry.	
 

Did anyone else see that Pearce has apparently said that he didn't think Boli 
did it on purpose? He said that Boli was about to run after the ball, that he 
(Pearce) was still shielded by the Frenchman he was still grappling with 
(Angloma?), and it was an accidental collision. Possibly Pearce just being a 
'lad' here, honour amonmg thieves etc. And all we got to see was a distant 
shot from half way down the pitch - certainly not enough for us, never mind 
UEFA, to go crucifying people.

grahame

           
    re .5 
    
> And all we got to see was a distant 
>shot from half way down the pitch - certainly not enough for us, 
>never mind UEFA, to go crucifying people.        
    
    I have to disagree here. The TV pictures showed quite clearly that Boli
    deliberately butted Pearce, without any apparent provocation. There is
    a serious issue here as well; players cannot be allowed to get away
    with committing assault on opponents, otherwise violent incidents such
    as this may well become more commomplace. Boli was guilty of a criminal 
    offence (assault); the fact that it took place on a football field
    should not make him immune from punishment. Given the context of the
    offence that punishment should come from the football authorities (in
    this case UEFA) rather than the police.
    
    jeff
    
    
            

    I suppose there is another issue underlying comments from Pearce and
    those who don't believe in trial by television and that is "Where do
    you draw the line?"
    
    Is Boli's deliberate headbutt in the same category as Maradona's "hand
    of God"?  One is assault and the other is cheating.  Neither should be
    allowed on the field of play, but who is the final arbitrator??
    
    Also, everyone (at one time or another) has committed a foul that
    bordered on assault (eg when Gazza b*ggered his knee), but trial by
    television will force someone to make a value judgement.
    
    With regard to cheating, hasn't everyone (at one time or another)
    appealed to the ref for a throw-in knowing full well that you were
    the last person to touch the ball??   What's the difference between
    that and Maradona's cheating?  Again, who's to judge??
    
    I would suggest either a second referee or giving linesmen authority to
    stop play for any infringement. 
    
    
    PJ  (Who appealed to the ref several times during the noters
    tournament)

	I think that UEFA must take action for the sake of football...
	Not doing anything about it, more or less condones violence
	on the pitch when the officials havent seen it.

	And the message to all pro's is if you are lucky NOT to be SEEN then
	thats fine by us...!!!

	Terrible for the game..especially when it looks to be taking a slump
	in terms of entertainment value..

	Tony

    
    re .7
    
    Bit of coincidence here !! 
    Maradonna's hand ball incident....Pearce being head butted and....
     
    Stuart Pearce stopping a certain Brazil goal with his hand in the 
    friendly a few years back.....8*)

Regarding the Boli-Pearce incident, we in mainland Europe didn't actually
get to see any proper replays of it - apparently each national TV station does
its own action replays. That's why in the Scotland-Germany game the four or
five goal chances by the Scots in the first half were not replayed at all,
whereas every 1000-1 attempt by the Germans etc etc blah blah.

I think the host country should control all TV output, otherwise certain
bias could turn into paranoid zenophobia.

Bob

>Regarding the Boli-Pearce incident, we in mainland Europe didn't actually
>get to see any proper replays of it - apparently each national TV station does
    
    That's right Bob. None of the English guys here complained about the 
    incident as the Germans didn't show any replays. The players didn't
    seem to make an issue of it either. Maybe Boli just has a hard head
    like Richard Gough......
    
    	- Robin......

    
    Well they showed it plenty of times here. It was a blatent
    head butt but who gives a toss ?? Pearce is a big lad and Boli
    won't do it a second time.
    
    JN.

    re .11
    
    If you watch the action replay it was not Gough who heeded the Germam,
    it was two Germans colliding. McCall on the other hand ( head ) done
    the business ) But how did the 5 foot midfielder get up that high.
    Action replay to the Tango advert. He has a stepladder in his back
    pocket.
    
    Nick

    
   >Pearce is a big lad and Boli won't do it a second time.
    
    Maybe not to Stuart Pearce, but maybe to another player now he has been
    let off.  Or some young French lad may try to copy his hero.  Players
    at this level should set a good example!
    
    Pete.

    Well said, Pete.
    
    I'm less concerned that Boli did not go unpunished or that the players
    are playing down the incident.  What really upsets me is the message it
    sends to young players all over the world - namely anything is
    acceptable as long as you can get away with it.
    
    This is why I put the Boli head-butt, Maradona's hand of God, and
    others in the same category.  If nothing is done to reprimand players
    for unethical behaviour, then the game itself is in danger.
    
    PJ