by Costas Chryanthou

Created on: August 03, 2008   Last Updated: October 31, 2008

Dangerous soccer tackles are already sanctioned by the governing body of soccer and implemented as and when they take place on the soccer pitch by the referee. Some dangerous tackles do not get seen by the referees and as such occassionally go un noticed. The situation at the moment is that when players make dangerous soccer tackles, is that the players responsible are shown yellow, or red cards. The result of a yellow card is not strict enough in deterring a player from making a dangerous tackle. A red card is perhaps tough enough penalty. If a player receives a red card then he would have to miss the next few games and as a result the media, the club supporters do not get to see that player until his suspension period is over.

I think players already get paid enough money, that even if the governing body hands a dangerous tackler a big fine or such like the player would not be affected so greatly financially to make such a terrific impact. The rules in place already might have the players own club if necessary deal voluntarily with this issue from within by docking a player a small percentage of his wages.

The dangerous tackle is an area where I feel that the game is so closely fought and highly competitive in nature, that the players have to occasionally make challenges, whether or not the player makes the tackle late or raises his boot too high above the ground is a matter for the referee to decide the effects of the outcome in sending a player off for a really bad offence, a yellow card would be a bad tackle, and perhaps a bad tackle would be just given a verbal warning by the referee.

To have great players and for fans interest purposes the last thing they would want to see is a situation where even lengthier bans for players making dangerous tackles being made. The game itself requires the top first team players, playing week in week out. Their absenses are missed at times where the players are handed out a 3 week ban. Raising this ban to say 2 or 3 months is bad for the club and the fans a like.

I think where the interest in this debate rests is having a well defined structure of making the punishment fit the crime. I feel that where a dangerous tackle has been made which ends the career of an opponent, the punishment should be tougher. Though where a clumsy tackle the decision of punishment is with the referee. Where tougher penalties for dangerous tackles are made, the soccer game will be even more open to abuse and based on even more complex interpretation. For example, where a player goes down injured the sometimes theatrical playacting of the affected player would undermine the need to have tougher penalties. Already so much play acting occurs which makes the need or requirement for bad challenges.

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