It's not. This analogy has managed to become tired and clichéd in just 4 days, but if I murder someone, it is my fault, and it is me who should be held accountable, not the Gardaí for not catching me.
And in all my years of playing as a defender, I have never deliberately stopped the ball with my hand on the line. As a footballer, your first instinct is to lunge at the ball with your head, leg or chest. If your instinctive reaction is to reach out with your hand, then you've been cheating in training as well.
Evra is absolute scum.
Just like Blatter and FIFA.
The time for the FAI to be sending letters and campaign against FIFA was when they pulled that stunt about seeding the playoff draw, because as soon as they did that you KNEW something bad might happen. In fact at the time I said that they should have gone to some international court of arbitration or something like that to appeal against it, all 4 of the lower seeded nations should have worked together on it at the time, on the grounds that it was illegal to make up the rules as you go along!!
As for Roy Keane... I don't care if he is right, that's not the point. The point is, he has no right whatsoever to be making comments about Ireland. Pointing finger at one of the best keepers in the world and at a defender he signed at sunderland am I right?? Where is he now Ipswich in the relegation zone is it? ****
but if he had got a yellow card during the game, the goal would have also been disallowed and Ireland would have gotten a free out.
So its not a proper penalty. In fact its such an ineffective punishment it would just be stupid.
A one or two game ban would be just and proper in my opinion.
I like high energy football. A little bit rock and roll. Many finishes instead of waiting for the perfect one.
While I think Keane let himself down badly with the comments, I would argue he has as much if not more right to be talking about Ireland than any of us, all the journos, the Joe Duffy's and Pat Kennys who have been doing nothing but commenting on Ireland since last Wednesday night. For the simple reason hs is someone who has actually worn the jersey himself. Irregardless of your stance on Saipan.
Besides his pathetic point scoring against the FAI, Delaney and Given, I believe he was actually correct to mention McShane. Something I argued the morning after the game and the more I saw the incident. A lot of crap has been said about this incident - about off sides and how can you defend a situation like that. Its simple - you play the whistle, not let the ball bounce and you put your foot through the ball and get rid of it. You certainly dont let your oppponent get goal side of you. If he clears TH doesnt get the opportunity to cheat or do anything else.
As for Evra, surprised at this attitude. He always struck me as being quite professional and PR savvy when I ever heard him speak. He said all the right things before the two games too and generally does whenever I hear or read his comments.
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