Soccer is not fair. It’s just not. Having watched many, many soccer games in my lifetime, I can tell you that with a pretty good amount of certainty.
Here’s just a taste of some of the things that one may find unfair:
- Players will foul an opposing player (on purpose).
- Players will run a bit up the sideline for a throw-in when they, you, and everyone else clearly saw the ball go out of bounds much farther back.
- Strikers will hang out offsides in the hope that referees miss it.
- Players will take the ball to the corner to waste time.
- Players will push.
- Players will trip.
- Goalies will waste time because they can.
- Referees will miss calls.
- Referees will see plays differently than you.
- Referees will interpret a rule differently than you.
All of which leaves you, the fan or parent, utterly outraged at the injustice you are experiencing. There’s yelling, and fist-pounding, and screams of “How could they do that?” and “that cost us the game!”.
Yet, when the clock winds down, and the referee blows that whistle three times, we walk away. The players leave the field. The referees leave the field. And the spectators leave the stands. And life goes on.
Why do you think we do that?
Because we know that there is nothing we can (realistically) do about these perceived injustices. The officials have made (or not made) a call. It is their decision, and no one else’s. We don’t like it. We can’t believe we have to accept it. We probably even curse their names. But we do have to accept them.
Because these are the rules of the game.
They are clear and final.
And we must move on to the next game.
.
.
.
.
.
Now, imagine I’m not talking about a soccer game. Imagine I’m talking about an election.
Does that change your view?
I hope so.
