The University Observer | 13 November 2012
SPORT
SPORTS DIGEST
The Badger:
by jack walsh
Trampolining
The Badger is decidedly underwhelmed with the football season so far
The Irish Student Trampolining Open (ISTO) is set to take place in Cork from the 5th to the 7th of April 2013. The event is attended by 40 different Irish, Northern Irish, Welsh, Scottish and English clubs, and has attracted international attention in recent years from French, Dutch and German trampoline clubs. It is the largest trampolining competition in Ireland. This year’s ISTO will have competitions in individual, synchronised, double-mini trampolining and tumbling, which aim to include all ability levels from novice to elite. This year’s event will also introduce more disciplines and levels of gymnastics. A portion of sponsorship will be donated to the Irish cancer society, with €1,025 donated to Special Olympics Ireland last year.
Ugliness in the beautiful game
Football UCD AFC has won the Airtricity League Fair Play award for the 2012 season. As a result, UCD AFC will receive €4,000, along with the chance of playing in the Europa League next season. The competition is based on points system with points awarded or deducted by the match delegate at each Premier Division match for red and yellow cards, positive play and the behaviour and attitude of players and team officials. UCD will now wait for the result of UEFA’s Respect Fair Play ranking which is based on all UEFA competition matches played at both club and national
team level, from May 1, 2012 to April 30, 2013. The top three countries in the table on May 1, 2013 will each be granted one additional slot for the first qualifying round of the 2013/14 UEFA Europa League. If Ireland is to be placed in the top three, UCD will be given a slot within the Europa League next season.
Basketball UCD Marian lost by nine points at the Upper Glanmire Sports Centre against Bord Gáis Neptune on Saturday the 10th of November with Neptune winning by a score of 64-53. UCD Marian held a two point lead at half time with a score of 33-31, but Neptune were able to dig deep and secure victory, now sitting in third position in the league table to UCD Marians fifth. Although UCD boasts the tightest defence in the league, they could not contend with Neptune’s offence in the second half. UCD’s attack once again was left wanting, as John Galvin top-scored for Marian with 20 points, while captain Niall Meany managed nine points. UCD have now lost their last four games, having started the season with two wins from their first three. Marian’s next game is against Killester on Saturday, November 17th in UCD. Throw in is at 7.10pm.
19
Shane Hannon investigates why racism is so prevalent in football today, and asks what can be done do fight it
B
ack in late October, a thrill- of Norwich City) manages in the Pre- mer FA chief David Davies described ing game of football be- mier League. the Suarez case as “one of the most diftween two of the top sides in Some argue that it doesn’t come ficult of modern times” as it was essenthe English Premier League down to colour, rather qualifications tially one man’s word against another’s. took place at Stamford and experience, but one need look no Similarly, the Terry case dragged out Bridge. Unfortunately, in the immedi- further than the example of former into an 11-month saga. ate aftermath of the Chelsea-Manches- Notts County, Birmingham City and Current FA chairman David Bernter United match, an all too familiar Derby County defender Michael John- stein spoke of how “the reputation of adversary of the sport reared its ugly son to realise that unfortunately this English football has been damaged” head once more. Referee Mark Clatten- isn’t always the case. because of it. The two cases were much burg was accused of using inappropriJohnson began taking his coaching the same, and yet the differing punishate language, some of which were racist badges as a player and took up a coach- ments handed out did little for the FA’s in nature, by a Chelsea player. ing post in Notts County’s youth set-up reputation. This latest allegation of racism after he retired in 2009. When the firstSuarez was handed an eight-match comes after a turbulent year in English team manager Paul Ince, one of the few ban and was fined £40,000 for racially football, during which the Luis Suarez black managers in recent years, lost his abusing Patrice Evra of Manchester and John Terry cases took up the col- job, Johnson (who held a Uefa Pro Li- United, while Terry was dealt a fourumn inches in place of matters on the cence; the highest coaching qualifica- match ban but handed a much steeper field of play. But is racism more preva- tion) was also told he was surplus to fine of £220,000 for doing likewise to lent in football than in other sports? requirements. QPR’s Anton Ferdinand. When comPerhaps it is football’s worldwide popuJohnson was replaced by a former pared, these varying punishments larity, attracting people from all social under-12’s coach who only held a UEFA highlight the inconsistency amongst and ethnic backgrounds, which leaves B Licence. The Professional Foot- the powers that be in the English game. it more open to It is disthese accusations crepancies “The Rooney Rule, introduced to the NFL in 2003, like than a less diverse this sport would be. which rerequires all teams in the league to interview at least Racism in footcently comone candidate from an ethnic minority for head ball goes back alpelled a most as far as the handful of coaching and senior football operations jobs” sport itself. Diplayers to rexie Dean, a darkfuse to wear skinned Everton forward in the 1930’s, ballers’ Association (PFA) Chief Execu- the now infamous ‘Kick It Out’ t-shirts had racist comments aimed at him tive Gordon Taylor has maintained that during their warm-ups. The refusal to as he left the pitch at half-time dur- “As the players’ voice, we are commit- support an anti-racism campaign from ing a match in London. He reportedly ted to tackling the issue of black players some of the most prominent black playpunched the offender himself and ran going into coaching and management.” ers in the league shows that the players down the players’ tunnel. Surpris- But what, if anything, can the authori- feel not enough is being done. ingly, the police took no action against ties do? One possible solution would be In a recent ComRes poll for the SunDean as apparently the victim had “de- to follow the lead of the NFL by imple- day Mirror, 40% of people agreed that served” his punishment. menting a ‘Rooney Rule’. racism is widespread in English footBut here we are 80 years on and The Rooney Rule, introduced to the ball; up from 31% in June. 57% were racism is still making its unwanted NFL in 2003, requires all teams in the also convinced that it would be impospresence felt in the stands and on the league to interview at least one candi- sible to eliminate racism from football, pitches. It feels like every week there is date from an ethnic minority for head although it seems few would argue that a new case to keep the issue alive. Some coaching and senior football operations the FA and FIFA shouldn’t strive to question if the problem really is all that jobs. Its success speaks for itself. With- achieve this. bad, but the statistics speak for them- in three years, the percentage of AfriIt is worrying to think that a point selves. can-American coaches in the NFL rose could be reached where racism would A recent report by BBC Sport looked from 6% to 22%. This method would, at become akin to foul language; frowned at the lack of opportunities for black the very least, be a start for the FA in upon, yet acceptable. It is indisputable coaches in football. While 30% of play- their attempts to eradicate racism from that racism is currently tainting the imers in the professional game in England the sport. age of the sport, and this should never are non-white, there are only four black Over the last year, the Luis Suarez have been allowed to happen. It is time managers in English professional foot- and John Terry cases took racism in the to re-paint football’s make-up and help ball. Only one of those (Chris Hughton English game to a whole new level. For- reclaim the beautiful game once again.
T
he Badger is finding it hard to tell which was more predictable this weekend; Manchester United’s comeback against Aston Villa or Arsenal’s stubborn refusal to win a game. In truth, they are both so unremarkably predictable that you may as well ask which UCD residence has the lowest level of syphilis*. Honestly, the only thing that surprised The Badger this week was the fact that Celtic managed to beat Barcelona by refusing to actually play football. After the game, Celtic were heaped with praise, describing them as “heroic”, “magnificent” and “only having the ball for 47 seconds in the second half”. If you don’t believe The Badger (which is something you should never, ever do), you can check it out for yourself on the official UEFA stat sheet, which said Celtic had possession of the ball for a grand total of 6 minutes and 51 seconds during the game, giving them a whopping 11% possession for the night. Of course, Celtic fans will claim that the only statistic that counts is the goals scored, and (for once) they are right. Celtic managed to hold out Barcelona for 90 minutes by playing a revolutionary 10-0-1 formation. The Badger also found it amusing when many pundits decided it would be appropriate to call the night the greatest achievement in Celtic’s European history, completely ignoring the time they actually won the European Cup in 1967 after beating an Inter Milan side that had won two of the previous three tournaments with a team purely comprised of players born within 30 miles of Glasgow. Gone are the days when such a team could be built, not simply because of the current transfer climate, but also because Scotland are terrible at all sports again. In fact, it seems as if British and Irish football has hit a rut, with the over-rated Wayne Rooney the closest thing there is to a world-class player in any of the “Home Nations”. What this week also proved was that the constants claims by Sky Sports that the Premier League is the best in the world are either an attempt at selfpromotion, or a complete inability of the English to accept they are not the best at something. The Badger believes it could be a combination of the two. It’s sad that it is only November and The Badger is already growing tired of the football season. Perhaps a winter break isn’t such a bad idea after all. *It’s Glenomena.