# 2010 FIFA World Cup South Africa **URL:** \ **Category:** The Game Room\ **Created:** [June 10, 2010, 5:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677 "2010-06-10T17:32:52Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 108
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 9:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/2141 "2010-07-02T21:27:49Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > Right. > > Both codes of rugby have something called a Penalty Try, where deliberate and blatant fouls that prevent a team from scoring can result in the referee simply awarding the score anyway, if the ref is convinced that the team would have scored without the foul. Soccer could do with something similar for cases like this. ummm NOPE. I Like the game just like it is, thank you, the end of this game was just beautiful. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/2142 "2010-07-02T21:29:01Z")
> [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](#): > > But soccer doesn’t. So how did Uruguay cheat? It’s a serious question: should Suarez have simply conceded the goal and left the World Cup? He should have tried to keep the ball out of the net with his head, like the rules allow. ---
**Author:** ![mascaroni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@mascaroni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mascaroni)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/2143 "2010-07-02T21:29:14Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > Fuck Uruguay. Fucking cheats don’t deserve to go through. Stan Collymore is going on a a right one on Talksport [www.talksport.net](http://www.talksport.net) not sure if the link works outside of the UK, but it’s a channel well worth listening to if you’re into football. ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/2144 "2010-07-02T21:29:17Z")
I agree that it stinks, but I will still root for them if they end up against Argentina or Germany in the Final. Its not that I dislike those two teams but i always like to see someone new win it (yes I know Uruguay has two, but more recently they are afterthoughts). ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 9:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/2145 "2010-07-02T21:29:56Z")
> [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](#): > > But soccer doesn’t. So how did Uruguay cheat? It’s a serious question: should Suarez have simply conceded the goal and left the World Cup? THIS ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/2146 "2010-07-02T21:30:02Z")
> [@Frodo](#): > > …the end of this game was just beautiful. Beautiful if you like cheating. ---
**Author:** ![straight\_man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/straight_man/32/3027_2.png) [@straight\_man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/straight_man)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/2147 "2010-07-02T21:30:03Z")
> [@borschevsky](#): > > Indeed. Under the current rules, you can’t really blame the guy for taking the handball. It’s not like he’s trying to put one over on the referee, it’s just that the penalty+red is preferable to a goal. Exactly. I actually couldn’t be too sad with Uruguay winning, despite rooting for Ghana —that was a very smart (and self-sacrificing) play on his part, and he was plainly distraught at being sent off, but with all the rules being enacted in the proper manner, it resulted in a victory. Blame Ghana for not capitalizing on the goal kick. That said, I wouldn’t be at all upset for the rules to let a point be awarded with no goal kick. That kind of play really isn’t in line with the spirit of the rules, even if it is smart. ETA: after this, I hate penalty kicks even more. ETA#2: I’m rooting for the Oranje next match anyway. ---
**Author:** ![borschevsky](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/97f17d/32.png) [@borschevsky](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/borschevsky)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 9:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/2148 "2010-07-02T21:30:39Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > He should have tried to keep the ball out of the net with his head, like the rules allow. The rules allow him to keep it out with his hands, too. ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 9:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/2149 "2010-07-02T21:31:22Z")
Obviously he didn’t believe he could keep the ball out. So then what? Is a pass interference in American football or a foul to prevent a layup in basketball similarly bullshit and cheating, then? ---
**Author:** ![duality72](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/duality72/32/3910_2.png) [@duality72](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/duality72)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 9:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/2150 "2010-07-02T21:33:05Z")
> [@Wallenstein](#): > > Does Suarez miss the final? > > Edit: apparently not… one game ban for red card ☹ There’s an automatic one game ban, but it can be extended. I would guess this will be extended to at least two games. I fully expect (and hope) Uruguay won’t be playing in the final anyway, but in the third place game, where I hope they get crushed for the second time in a row. ---
**Author:** ![Sr\_Siete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/6de8d8/32.png) [@Sr\_Siete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sr_Siete)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 9:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/2151 "2010-07-02T21:34:37Z")
Changing some of the archaic rules from the Beautiful Game just to make it a bit more entertaining and a lot more more fair? You dirty commies! How _dare_ you suggest that? ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/2152 "2010-07-02T21:36:14Z")
Bizarre, bizarre finish. I don’t like that the Suarez stopped the ball with his hand, but… 1. He at least got punished for it. He will miss the next match, which greatly harms Uruguay. 2. Ghana had a great chance to then win it by just putting in the spot kick. 3. There was way too much “extra time” added to that last period. Go back and compare all the BS flopping and carting off that Ghana did against the US in the last match and then check how little time was added for that. 4. They didn’t show a good replay, but it looked like a total dive to set up the initial free kick. Maybe it was karma that they couldn’t score in the end. ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 9:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/2153 "2010-07-02T21:36:41Z")
> [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](#): > > Is a pass interference in American football or a foul to prevent a layup in basketball similarly bullshit and cheating, then? Depends. At least with pass interference or a basketball foul, you can accidentally commit one of those fouls while trying to play within the rules of the game. So, for example, plenty of cornerbacks have committed pass interference while making a genuine attempt to catch or defend the ball. They are often just beaten by a better wide receiver, or they stumble and accidentally run into the receiver. But, in sticking your hand in front of a ball headed straight for the net like that, there _is_ no legal play that you might have just messed up. It’s simply a deliberate foul. Nothing more, nothing less. And, in the case of pass interference or basketball fouls that are similarly deliberate and cynical, my answer to your question would be “yes.” I know that the preferred euphemism among sportscasters is “professional foul,” but cheating is exactly what it is. ---
**Author:** ![DigitalC](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ebca7d/32.png) [@DigitalC](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DigitalC)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/2154 "2010-07-02T21:38:08Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > Beautiful if you like cheating. It’s no more cheating than intentionally fouling a basketball player at the end of the game to make him shoot free throws. Except that penalty kicks are way more of a sure thing than FTs. ---
**Author:** ![wolfman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/a8b319/32.png) [@wolfman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/wolfman)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/2155 "2010-07-02T21:39:42Z")
That is one of the differences between America and, well everybody else it seems. It took me a log time to understand the “Professional foul” was a nasty sneered term for soccer folks. In every U.S. sport it is considered the mark of a good player to take a foul for the benefit of the team, as long as it isn’t violent. Wrapping the guy up before an easy dunk, hooking the guy on the breakaway, holding the wide receiver when your ass is beat. They are all considered great plays, and there is no implication of cheating on other side just because it was deliberate. We expect that the fouled man will get his ascribed penalty make up, and there is a lot of debate whether the penalty is determined to be harmful enough. But it’s never a matter of character judgment or cheating. It’s simply a matter of trying to win. ---
**Author:** ![mascaroni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/dc4da7/32.png) [@mascaroni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mascaroni)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/2156 "2010-07-02T21:43:08Z")
> [@Frodo](#): > > ummm NOPE. > > I Like the game just like it is, thank you, the end of this game was just beautiful. Was it beautiful like Maradona’s first goal against England in 1986, or beautiful like Rudi Voller smashng his elbow into Maradona’s face about half an hour into the 1990 final? ---
**Author:** ![mhendo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mhendo/32/3159_2.png) [@mhendo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mhendo)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 9:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/2157 "2010-07-02T21:43:30Z")
> [@DigitalC](#): > > It’s no more cheating than intentionally fouling a basketball player at the end of the game to make him shoot free throws. That is correct. I’ve advocated more than once, in discussions about this on these boards, that the basketball rules should be changed so as not to reward this particular “professional foul.” ---
**Author:** ![Isosleepy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/isosleepy/32/479_2.png) [@Isosleepy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isosleepy)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/2158 "2010-07-02T21:45:22Z")
Tomorrow, the other “semi-final coming one round early” (no, not the one with Spain and Paraguay in it) Should make for nice fireworks. It’s weird, this might be the first time in my life, ever, where I want die Mannschaft to win. They play good-looking soccer. And in that other game, maybe Spain will finally show us something. No doubt in my mind they’ll win, I’d just like them to do so with some play. ---
**Author:** ![ShibbOleth](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/848f3c/32.png) [@ShibbOleth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ShibbOleth)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/2159 "2010-07-02T21:46:18Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > That is correct. > > I’ve advocated more than once, in discussions about this on these boards, that the basketball rules should be changed so as not to reward this particular “professional foul.” They could just award three free throws instead of two on these. ---
**Author:** ![Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/f475e1/32.png) [@Jimmy\_Chitwood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jimmy_Chitwood)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2010, 9:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677/2160 "2010-07-02T21:46:32Z")
> [@mhendo](#): > > That is correct. > > I’ve advocated more than once, in discussions about this on these boards, that the basketball rules should be changed so as not to reward this particular “professional foul.” But they haven’t been. Does your definition of cheating depend on something other than what the rules of the game _actually_ say? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677.md?page=107) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/2010-fifa-world-cup-south-africa/542677.md?page=109)