The following story in the Baltimore Sun shows a level of sporstmanship outside the game: http://www.sunspot.net/bal-sp.dundalk01nov01.story They say that soccer is a game for gentlemen played by hooligans, and rugby is a game for hooligans played by gentlemen. Personally, I applaud the schools decision.
A wonderful decision by the school. The college's President has set a very appropriate, and meaningful level of expectation for the deportment of it's students. This is clearly a case of walking the walk and talking the talk.
that is Bull S***, 1. they could have at least kicked the 2 off the team instead of making the whole team forfeit. 2. that stuff happens in soccer sometimes. 3. it's just soccer man
Aren't the players red carded being disciplined and would miss the following game(s) anyway? There could also be disciplinary action taken by the school on those specific players regarding playing. As a player I would find it harsh to discipline a whole team for the actions of a couple players. It's the duty of the coach to discipline his players, I'd rather see the team move on and have the two red carded players and the coach suspended for the rest of the tournament. Not being there it would be hard to actually come to a conclusion about this matter. If it was so bad that the team needs to be suspended from the tournament I would have expected the referee would have suspended the match while in progress. I'd be interested if other sports at that school had players/teams disciplined the same way for similar conduct? Just trying to see the players side of things, it is definitely the school's decision (obviously).
I don't know the detail of what happened, so I cannot really have a valid opinion. However, based just on what was in the article, I feel the decision was completely inappropriate. The two players have been punished already by getting red carded. They would have missed the next game. To punish the whole team seems very inappropriate. If the referee felt that the whole team was at fault, then he would have suspended the game. He didn't. Unless I hear more evidence, which is quite possible, then I feel the decision was ridiculous and bush league.
That's the trouble with college, they are always so damn idealistic. Its amazing they can prepare anyone for the real world. Bad decision, soccer is a team sport and the whole team should not suffer for the actions of a few.
Imagine how you would feel if you were one of those players who busted their ass to make that come back and win the game, just to be told the season is over, what a crock. Maybe their is more to this story, but as it is the decision is a horrible one.
The trouble with college I hate that too. Damn professors always trying to instill idealism in their students with the hope that some will rub off and survive the realism of the school of hard knocks! I also agree that soccer's a team sport, too! Live by the team, die by the team, that's what I say! Or, something like that. BTW, I don't know if the punishment fits the crime in this case or not. Just not enough information to render an informed opinion. I, too, would like to hear the players side and a video of the game would help also. Even more valuable would be the referees view. How did the behavior stack up to his experience?
Reread the article The article states that players from both teams nearly came to blows. This isn't about the two sent off players, it's about the behavior of a lot of other players that was called to question. Clearly we don't know how many, but I seriously doubt the school would have foreited the match if it was two players that behaved inappropriately.
Re: Reread the article I despise crap behaviour as much as anybody but admit I remain puzzled by the dramatics of this situation. I support Fairplay principles as the lifeblood of true footbal matches, however for such a decision to be taken the antics of the team must have been horrendous and the history of the team must be inheriantly full of such incidents. I am trying to make sense of a 4 to 0 score a team rallies, comes back to tie and then win in a shoot out down two players? The motivational speech for that bit of matchplay must have inspired the players to go ballistic and scare the bejezzus out of the opposing team. I agree that if the referee in the match did not abandon that game it must have been a heck of a match report of ugliness and mayhem to envoke such a dramatic reponse from the college. Need far more information to be sure this is not a knee jerk reaction of the establishment. Setting positive examples and taking the team to task is one thing destroying a season for all concerned is another.