UEFA Comes to Its Senses
By: Martin | September 14th, 2009I have to admit, so low are my expectations of UEFA at this point, that I’m a bit surprised. But UEFA just announced that Arsenal’s appeal over the Eduardo suspension has been granted, and Eduardo will not be suspended for his actions against Celtic.
As I said before, I believe Eduardo dived. And if they want to suspend divers, that’s fine by me, too. But for them to single him out over all the other players who have taken gives in UEFA competitions over the past several years, in the absence of any clear reason or process for doing so, was thoroughly unfair.
This was a clear case of not thinking through the consequences of their actions. I think once it became clear to UEFA that if they suspended Eduardo for diving, then any act of simulation (which happens virtually every game) would be brought before them by the opposing manager, they realized what a dangerous precedent they would be setting. Furthermore, it was foolish that Eduardo was essentially getting punished because the referee DIDN’T see it at the time–if he had, Eduardo would have been given a yellow and that would have been the end of the story. But because the referee didn’t see it he gets a two-match ban? The whole affair was quite silly.
Anyway, this is good for us in terms of football because Eduardo has been playing very well lately. And given how ineffective the lineup and configuration we used against Manchester City was on Saturday, I have to think now that he has a very good chance of starting up front against Standard on Wednesday.
Preview for that match coming tomorrow.
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Comments | Add your comment
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If I thought UEFA had two brain cells to rub together within its organization, I would say that they had done the sensible thing – thrown out a ban to send the message they will not tolerate diving, then rescind it on appeal so they aren’t making an individual scapegoat.
But as is clear, UEFA DON’T have two brain cells to rub together, so I completely agree with your comment that they didn’t think through their actions. Once again.
It remains a shame though that Eduardo will be stigmatized as a diver now for one incident, thanks to UEFAs heavy-handedness.
Posted from
United States
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EVERYONE knows Eduardo dived, UEFA charged him, Arsenal appealed (on the basis of the arbitrariness of the decision) and then UEFA upheld the appeal – but on the basis that they could not conclude that Eduardo actually dived. Am I interpreting this correctly? If so, that is pretty retarded even by UEFA’s standards.
Posted from
Australia -
Good! and in my twisted way of seeing thing: fair to eduardo.
maybe uefa realized how much work they were giving themselves after all teams started appeals for divings hahaha!Posted from
United States -
this is related to the previous post but maybe all of you will see it if i share it in this one:
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/football/paul-parker/article/13833/Posted from
United States -
Good result for Arsenal although Eduardo dived if you start singling out players for the sort of abuse Eduardo received then we open up a can of worms and then everyone has to be punished for every decision after the game so it will become ridiculous
Posted from
United States
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