Would $300,000 fines stop players from cheating?
German Franz Beckenbauer, president of this year's World Cup organizing committee and the country's most influential soccer personality, wants the German soccer league, the Bundesliga, to give players huge fines for cheating, play-acting and taking part in other foul play.
"There should be drastic penalties, not 10,000 euros but 250,000 euros so that they really hurt," Beckenbauer said.
Beckenbauer thinks these fines are needed because the league is in trouble.
A fine of $300,000 would get someone's attention and sadly, it might be the only way to bring such actions to an end. Referees will always be unable to see what happens everywhere on the pitch, but if players new that a television replay could cost them a large portion of their salary, they might just think twice before giving a elbow away from the ball. Okay, $300,000 might be a little steep, thus keeping it from being used much, so maybe they should start at $100,000 and work up from there for every offense.
"There should be drastic penalties, not 10,000 euros but 250,000 euros so that they really hurt," Beckenbauer said.
Beckenbauer thinks these fines are needed because the league is in trouble.
"The image of the league is terrible. There is too much provocation and theatre," said Beckenbauer, who won the World Cup as a player in 1974 and as coach in 1990.
"It's unfortunately a reflection of the general trend in our soccer. It's no coincidence that our clubs make early exits from the Champions League. I just hope that we'll have clean matches at the World Cup."
A fine of $300,000 would get someone's attention and sadly, it might be the only way to bring such actions to an end. Referees will always be unable to see what happens everywhere on the pitch, but if players new that a television replay could cost them a large portion of their salary, they might just think twice before giving a elbow away from the ball. Okay, $300,000 might be a little steep, thus keeping it from being used much, so maybe they should start at $100,000 and work up from there for every offense.
posted by Mike H at 8:48 PM
3 Comments:
Not a bad idea. I recall a recent article on a British newspaper site coming to the conclusion that the main reason Americans don't like soccer is all the diving that goes on.
John,
I agree with you. When I watch matches with non-hard core fans, that is usually the first thing they ask about. Sadly, I can't really explain why a player decides to fall down. Also, I can't think of any other example in pro-sports to compare it to (okay, some basketball fouls are acting at its best, but they only come every now and then).
That is not a bad idea at all! I agree with both of the other commentors.
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