Just kidding. But I wouldn’t be surprised if we see those headlines tomorrow.
In case you didn’t watch the game, South African keeper Itumeleng Khune was given a red card by the Swiss referee Massimo Busacca in the 76th minute. Star forward Steven Pienaar was then taken off to make room for the inexperienced replacement keeper Moneed Josephs, who was immediately beaten by Diego Forlan’s penalty.
I am a South African national, and although I’ve spent the better part of my life outside of the Rainbow Nation I feel I need to say a couple things about what this means for our nation, and the game at large.
Admittedly, we didn’t play very well today. Nonetheless, the two goals that we conceded in the last ten to fifteen minutes of the game were salt in the wound for the nation at large. Forlan played well, but his cracker of a goal was only so because of the deflection it took. A draw would have kept us in the running for making it in to the next round, and even a 1-0 loss would have made it easier. Now we stand a good chance of being the first host nation to not make it through the group stage.
All because of some pussy-ass dive. Listen, footballers: this isn’t the NBA, or even the Screen Actors Guild, so stop acting like you’re reeling in agony when you just got clipped. Theatrics just slow the pace and flow of the game and tinge it with dishonesty. Yes, Suarez was the last man and he was tackled but there was no need for him to cringe and dive like he just got tased. If you fall, fall. But don’t go searching for set pieces by making it a bigger deal than it is. The red card was undeserved.
Which brings me to my next point: Massimo Busacca, you’re an asshole. Yes, maybe Switzerland did beat Spain and maybe you creamed your pants a little, but that’s still no reason to go flashing reds and yellows for shits and giggles. What, you think this is just a game?!
In my post-game fury I google-searched Busacca. I didn’t find out his address, or the name of his wife or first-born son, but I did find out that Mr. Massimo has a little record for pulling this type of crap. In the 2006 World Cup, Busacca awarded a penalty kick and a red card to the Ukrainian Vladislaw Vaschuk when they played Spain, allowing the Spaniards to sail to a comfortable 3-0 win. Upon further review it was found that there was indeed no physical contact in the penalty area.
Busacca is also known for being a little bit of a wildcard. He was banned after giving the finger to a group of heckling fans at a Swiss Cup match. And worse, he also took a piss ON THE FIELD while officiating a Qatar Stars League game last year. Busacca, you disgust me.
Tonight, the ceaseless buzz of the vuvuzela’s will be quieter than usual. Not only will today be remembered as Youth Day, commemorating the 34th anniversary of the Soweto Uprising in which thousands of students protested the apartheid education system, it may also be the day that South Africa lost it’s place in the 2010 World Cup to the hand of senseless adjudication. Our next match, and the last of the group stage, will be against the French. Our chances are slim, but looking at the way the French have been playing so far, there’s still a glimmer of hope.
AMANDLA!
Mr. Tesh
No, fuck YOU Massimo!
No comments:
Post a Comment