Referee Mafia - Time to Weed Them Out!

There has been much talk and controversy over bribery scandals, players cheating and clubs agreeing to fix matches. But one growing negative aspect of the game is the influence of the Referee Mafia in world football.

A shocking revelation by English ex-referee Graham Poll has revealed how the World Cup referee panel had singled out players for special treatment. In this particular instance, Peter Crouch was mentioned. The explanation was that he was a dirty player, in the way he uses his arms during games to gain physical leverage and all. But let's face it - this is done by hundreds and thousands of players - to specifically single out one is like putting a price on his head - a soccer equivalent of hiring a hitman!

What they should have done is just to emphasise to referees of the kind of play that should not be allowed, instead of pointing out any particular player!

Kudos to the big mouth of Poll in revealing this. This new Mafia should be eradicated and players kept safe from a group of individuals who have clearly grown too big for their whistles!

Too Much Soccer For The Players - Causing Deaths?

Michel Platini has come out voicing his opinion that the recent death of Antonio Puerta and other related incidents are highlighting that the soccer calendar is too packed and players are tasked with too many games. That might be implying that the extra exertions are taking their toll on the players.

While I agree somewhat that there are too many games and players nowadays are under extreme physical stress, however, the exercise science and medical technology available nowadays have also helped counteract that to a certain extent. Of course, the cost of such technology and medicine might not be within the reach of every club.

However, in commenting, Platini seems to have overlooked the fact that players with such health abnormalities should not even be put into such a position in the first place. There needs to be an improvement at the grassroots level to filter out such players, and I do not mean 'filter' in a negative way. They should not be exposed in the long run to such physical demands which can only lead to tragedy, if no such aids as mentioned in the previous paragraph are available to them.

FIFA should look into this - there is just too much at stake for soccer as a sport.