O/T Zidane

[heydude]

read this onehttp://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/footbal ... 164094.stm

[Fraggle]

My only real thought on this, apart from the fact that even my soccer-hating self respects the wonderful displays that Zidane has put on over the years, is about the media coverage. To read what some of them are saying, "we've never seen anything like this", "it's a disgrace", "he'll only be remembered for this one thing"... they are making it sound like it's worse than the infamous Eric Cantona incident where he jumped into the crowd and assaulted someone. Now I'm sorry, but one player nutting another player is one thing, it's nothing like as bad as assaulting a spectator which should never be allowed. But people still talk about the genuis of Cantona, they tend to brush aside his indiscretion as being just a minor thing against his talent. I wonder, if Zidane had ever played in the Premiership, would the British press be quite so condemning in their words? Their response to this, compared to their comments nowadays about Cantona, are not consistent and I think they are being far too harsh in Zidane. History will hopefully look at his positive achievements and the ugly side of his game should be rightly put aside.

[stevocod]

Fraggle posted: I wonder, if Zidane had ever played in the Premiership, would the British press be quite so condemning in their words?

Well if we are talking players being berated by the British press who play in the premiership or even Manchester United, Christiano Ronaldo has been certainly given some abuse by not just our press but worldwide so that comment is not entirely true to all circumstances.

[waterside glens]

tbh i can see the cantona incident both ways because it really pi55's me off when people hide in a crowd and do alot of mouthing they wouldn't say on their own

[thegimble]

DaveO posted:

LKC29 posted:
At least he gave the italian a genuine reason to go doown which is quite unusual.

The italian still looked like he'd been shot with a bloody big gun the way he was writhing about!

Dave

Absolutely correct.

What amazes me Rooney's sending off is just as vicious and the media protect him.

Hypocritse.

Diving has killed football for me and the game has become as real as wrestling.

[thegimble]

waterside glens posted:
tbh i can see the cantona incident both ways because it really pi55's me off when people hide in a crowd and do alot of mouthing they wouldn't say on their own

Cantona took his punishement like a man.

Rooney has been crying like a baby ever since.

[Fraggle]

waterside glens posted:
tbh i can see the cantona incident both ways because it really pi55's me off when people hide in a crowd and do alot of mouthing they wouldn't say on their own

I agree, these braindeads should keep their mouths shut, but, certainly here in Manchester, people still look on Cantona as being a special player even though he hit out at someone not directly involved in the match, whereas Zizou is being universally condemned for an on-field altercation. Surely things that happen on the field can't be considered as bad as assaulting a paying customer, even if that customer was out-of-order?

[Fraggle]

stevocod posted:

Fraggle posted: I wonder, if Zidane had ever played in the Premiership, would the British press be quite so condemning in their words?

Well if we are talking players being berated by the British press who play in the premiership or even Manchester United, Christiano Ronaldo has been certainly given some abuse by not just our press but worldwide so that comment is not entirely true to all circumstances.

That's true, I hadn't really consider that, and Ronaldo's "crimes" are very trivial compared to those of Zidane or Cantona. Although perhaps Ronaldo may not be UK-based for much longer...

But again I have to ask, why is Zidane universally condemned for an on-pitch matter, when Cantona seemingly now still gets feted as a great player even though he assaulted a member of the public? If Cantona is considered still a "great" in the sport (and I'm not really going to argue with that), then surely the same positive image has to apply to Zidane who has achived at least as much as Cantona in his career, notwithstanding his sending off against Italy.

[stevocod]

Fraggle posted:
Surely things that happen on the field can't be considered as bad as assaulting a paying customer, even if that customer was out-of-order?

Well according to the anti-racial enforcing act agreed between the FA, UEFA and FIFA now if a player is directly abused it is up to the stadium staff and or stewards to eject that person but it doesn't happen like that.

Football crowds will never be as good as rugby crowds, but neither act of retaliation is good for children to view or act upon and as an experienced ambassador to the game Zidane has got off lightly and bringing the Cantona example to the fore, he has to serve community service as well as his ban and I think Zidane should do the same despite the fact he's now retired.

Also he should issue a statement to the world announcing his wrong doing and this should not be deemed as sporting behaviour despite he may have been racially abused or it was a terrorist remark.

[stevocod]

Fraggle posted:
Although perhaps Ronaldo may not be UK-based for much longer...

Well he is contracted till United till 2010 and they say he is not for sale and Real Madrid or a fellow prospective club would have to properly pay a compensatory fee on top of a transfer fee to buy out the contract.