September 14, 2006
Ball Boy Scores Goal...Now with Video!
I have seen a lot of strange things in Brazilian soccer since I arrived here (not the least of which was Brazil's thrashing by France in this year's World Cup). Nothing quite so strange as this, however, from Yahoo News:
Ball boy scores in Brazil - World Soccer - Yahoo! SportsRIO DE JANEIRO, Sept 12 (Reuters) - A Brazilian referee faced suspension on Tuesday after she awarded a goal that television pictures showed was scored by a ball boy.
The 89th minute goal allowed Santacruzense to snatch a 1-1 draw at home to Atletico Sorocaba in the Paulista Football Federation (FPF) Cup on Sunday, a regional tournament played in the state of Sao Paulo.
Pictures showed that after a Santacruzense player shot narrowly wide, the boy collected the ball with his feet and took it back on to the pitch.
However, instead of returning it to the goalkeeper, he subtly tapped it across the line into the net.
Heads are going to roll over this:
"It was a very serious mistake and, unfortunately, the punishments will have to be applied for the referee and linesman," he said. "There was a lapse of concentration and that can't happen in football."
Update:
It was only a matter of time before this hit youtube. Here is the video:
Another Update:
Here is what I find to be an amazing quote by one of the players of the team that benefited from the bad decision, via rawstory.com:
"I simply shot the ball," he said. "If the referee recognized the goal, then it's her problem, not ours."
What about honesty? Good sportsmanship? Character? Nada?
There is a huge difference between the attitude of this player and that of the Argentine(!) players in 1914.
It was the first official game between the Brazil and Argentina. At one point in the second half, an Argentine player named Leonardi made a goal with his hand. The ref, a Brazilian, validated the goal.
Nobody celebrated. Presently the Argentine captain, Gallup Lanus, informed the ref that they would not accept the goal because they knew it was illegal. Brazil went on to win the game 1-0.
Somehow, the attitude of the game has changed. I do believe it simply reflects the attitude of the culture.
(Information on that game--in Portuguese--can be found here.)
Posted by Andrew on September 14, 2006 5:25 PM.
Comments
Posted by: Rachel at September 15, 2006 12:20 PM
I think that "goal" being a reflection of the culture would be a reflection of the game altogether. With Italy diving its way to the Cup- including the now infamous headbutt by Zidane (that I still believe was more dive than anything else) and its acceptance by FIFA, the game is JOGO FEO AGORA!! (The ugly game now)
Posted by: Pete at September 21, 2006 12:05 AM
I do believe that it demonstrates what is valued by the culture.
Posted by: Andrew at September 21, 2006 10:16 AM
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Thanks for your comment! Heh... the first time I stopped by here I didn't even realize you were in Brazil. Wherefore art thou?
We've never been in ATI, but my grandparents worked on the IBLP committee for Detroit and knew Gothard pretty well. My sister went to Verity, which is a college-level degree program affiliated with ATI.
Church is definitely a passion of mine. I'd love to talk more about it.
Have a great day!
Rachel
http//rachelstarrthomson.blogspot.com
P.S. I'm really excited... my book is available!