The Tolerance Level

"I've got to agree with Arsene Wenger."

That's what we say here often.

But, unbelievably, those are the words of Wenger's arch-rival Alex Ferguson.That's right Alex Ferguson is agreeing with Arsene Wenger and it has to do with physical, cheating football and the job being done by referees and the governing bodies in protecting the game and its players.There is so much to talk about here after Portsmouth stole an FA Cup win at the expense of superior United.

First off here is what Cristiano Ronaldo had to say:

"Sometimes I say that this is the best league in the world, but sometimes they don't protect the skillful players...After what happened to the Arsenal player Eduardo da Silva, I am scared to do my skills...The referee against Portsmouth was unbelievable. In the first five minutes, there were three fouls and he took no action and then he failed to give a penalty. It's difficult to play like this...Sometimes they just protect the defenders and I am thinking about having to change my game because it is difficult to play like that...Diarra did not even try to play the ball when he tackled me and he wasn't even booked. It's a joke. So often, there were fouls and the referee did nothing."

And here is Ferguson:

"Keith Hackett (general manager of the Professional Game Match Officials Board) has got a lot to answer for in this country. He's not doing his job properly...He should be assessed like everyone else is assessed. I'm assessed as a manager, the players are assessed, referees are assessed. Martin Atkinson will referee next week, no problem. But his performance today should not be accepted in our game...I agree with Sepp Blatter, the standards in our game as opposed to the Continent, the tolerance level, is behind Europe. I think it's a big problem...Lassana Diarra had eight or nine fouls in the match. It's incredible. I've got to agree with Arsene Wenger. Someone is going to get a serious injury in our game. He's had one himself with Eduardo...It's not a nice thing to talk about but, the treatment Ronaldo is getting, I'm worried about him."

Hmm, maybe this is what Queiroz meant when he called Ferguson a defender of the beautiful game. Maybe Fergie is finally getting the picture after having really technical players in his side for the last few years. One can only hope. The man wields a lot of power. Still, I suspect that he and his team will revert to form when they cannot beat other technical teams. They will take fouls. Dive into tackles. Try to prevent the other team playing instead of trying to beat them with their own superior play. The way a Milan would. You didn't see Milan getting dirty when Arsenal out-footballed them. But who knows? Perhaps Fergie will change. Lord knows he seems to have had a traumatic experience today. Perhaps he's learned.

We have to add that it's not about the injuries for us. Though we don't want to see players hurt. It's about the style of play and the winning. The fact is that if the laws of football are followed and fouls and misconduct are eliminated, the skillful more beautiful football can be played and teams that develop or purchase that skill can then have a fair opportunity to win trophies.

As Wenger said just yesterday at Arsenal.com:

"It's like you say to me you kick everybody off the park and at the end of the season you win a trophy. To win trophies is important but it is not the only thing in sport.”

Source > 08.03.2008