When did football become a non-contact sport?

[pidger]

Ok this is a bit of a grumble about the current state of the game of football, and the people responsible.

Just watched MOTD and everytime there is the slightest contact between players the commentators are crying that surely this should be a foul, and then you get the pundits over analysing things that happen in a split second and then call into question a ref's decision making capabilities.

Lets take the first issue first.... when did football become a non contact sport, i used to play quit a bit and the rough and tumble...the physical side of the game was one of the best things about playing. Why are these people, who may or may not be equiped to comment on these matters, trying to erradicate an important aspect of the national game. In my opinion, this is making the game poorer for the lack of a well timed sliding tackle....a good shoulder to shoulder challenge.... a towering header where a defender goes through the ball and the player and anything else in the way etc etc

Secondly, why is nobody prepared to stand up for a referee and his linesmen and say, they dont have access to slow-motion replays, reverse angles etc and can't accurately judge if a player is 2 millimeters offside or not. Its an imperfect system because youv got the human element involved, but its a system thats worked for hundreds of years and thats good enough for me. If they ever introduce a Rugby style video referee, well, that will surely be the last nail in the coffin of a once great game.

And for the liberals out there, i know that players are valuable assets to a 'business' but the game has gone backwards in recent years due to the increasing lack of physical battles between players

This is not a rant at MOTD, all Commentators are equally guilty of this in my opinion.

Just my two penneth worth.

Views please

[SparHawk]

The thing that annoys me the most is the over protection of goal keepers. I'm not saying players should be able to bundle them into the net like in the old days, but they should at least be able challenge them when a ball is in the air.

Any time anyone jumps with a goalie, free kick - no deviation.

Keepers come flying out of their goals throwing fists at balls that are right next to players heads - isn't this worse than someone jumping? If a player gets punched in the head, is a penalty given?

Keepers also come out for balls with one knee raised "To protect themselves" commentaters say. When then crash into another player, nothing is given.

If a player jumps into the keeper, or goes in with elbows then fair enough it should be a free kick, but challenging for the ball should be allowed.

[100blade]

pidger totally agree.....

the refs are human beings they cant get everything spot on like a camera can i feel sorry for them sometimes, the only reason why people are complaing is because the decisons could lead to relegation or getting promoted and not getting money for this

the game comes down to one thing these days and its money which players earn more in a week than some of us will earn in a year or 2 (unless we get a nice winner or 2 )

seriously tho imagine being a lino trying to spot an offside it so difficult to judge when the ball is played then to look straight along the line and then the farcical offside rule itself...

replays mentioned no thanks just think like this ur team scores a goal you jump around hugging fellow fans going crazy and then dissalowed thanks to a video ref ermmmm stupid , as before the only reason people want video refs is so every decsion is correct that comes down to the end of the day money football is going downhill fast