Terra (Ground/Land/Alex) Accido (Fall down/Hack/Reach by falling) can pretty much sum up the extent of my feelings on the weekends A-League action & drama, and subsequent suspensions handed out to both Michael Baird and Patricio Perez by the FFA.
My opinions mirror a lot of the comments I have heard around the traps this week. Yes, diving is a blight and must be stamped out, but the FFA has gone about doing so the wrong way and have set a very dangerous precedent for themselves that will have both players and more worryingly referees jumping at shadows until they get it right.
The main issue, as it always is when it comes to swift Match Review Panel rulings, is consistency.
I've never claimed to be an expert on the intricacies of the rules of the game, but if you're going to ban Perez for a couple of matches when there's still no conclusive proof that there was zero contact between himself and Liam Reddy you also have to wonder why Alex Terra didn't cop the same treatment when it was very obvious that the act of flopping around like a fish out of water came well after the contact with Naum Sekulovski had finished.
Surely the FFA, the MRP or both need to be more transparent on how they come to these decisions and allow the "natural justice" process to be followed by hearing appeals to decisions, which is actually something they have been willing to hear in the past (See: Ney Fabiano "allegedly" hocking a loogie at .Robert Cornthwaite).
For me though it's not so much an issue that diving is occurring, but rather the perpetrators of the acts of simulation themselves.
In nearly all cases the most obvious dives come from the leagues contingent of foreign players, and unfortunately they are also usually journeymen Brazilians or South Americans to the point where you really have to ask yourself what they bring to the league other than setting a horrible example to the Aussie kids witnessing their acts both off and on the pitch. Patrick, Cristiano, Leandro Love and now Alex Terra are just some of the names coming out of Brazil that have brought next to nothing towards developing the A-League as something worth taking your family and friends to.
So why do we keep buying and borrowing them?
With the exception of Perth Glory, the majority of A-League teams are now starting to realise that there is a wealth of U-23 talent in Australia languishing in the State Leagues. This year, more than ever, Aussie kids are making starting 11's, scoring goals and putting on a damned good show whilst they're at it. If someone can explain to me what Alex Terra brings to the Heart that an Aziz Behich or Eli Babalj doesn't, it would be much appreciated.
I take major issue with the amount of foreign players that clubs are allowed to sign at the moment - it just doesn't make sense. Visa players should be there to boost the quality of the local players around them, and that's just not viable when clubs are allowed to have up to 5 visa players at a time, no matter where they come from.
My suggestion to the FFA is to employ some of the suggestions set out by A-League coaches in recent discussions with the FFA, as well as falling into line with AFC Champions League regulations that limits foreign players to 3 foreigners with the exception of 1 extra player provided that they were to originate from an AFC nation. Make sure that any non-local (not including AFC players) are paid above the average A-League wage to avoid signing mediocrity and BE CLEAR on the rules are and actually enforce what type of player is allowed to be an international marquee - even if that does mean that my own team would miss out on what looks to be a very tasty prospect in Ricardinho.
Fan Wig Watch.
As a fan, and one that has an active interest in furthering the rights of all fans regardless of the team they follow - I get a huge kick out of players interacting directly with fans before, during and after games.
Two years ago I was a part of the ecstasy of wrapping my arms around Archie Thompson (see if you can spot me) on a balmy September night in Gosford after he put a second goal past Mark Bosnich to salvage a 2-2 draw in the last 5 seconds of injury time. Ever since, I have applauded any similar incidents by any player.
Perth seem particularly good at it when they are at home and Wellington are starting to build a real culture of fan interaction, although this round just passed credit has to go to Adelaide's Marcos Flores not only for his goal of the week, but also for running to the Adelaide away section and commandeering a bright red shock wig from one of the eager fans to dance around like a clown in. I got off my couch and applauded, after I had stopped giggling like a little girl, that is. I wish I had a picture of it, because it was priceless.
Unfortunately, the FFA may start cracking down on this in a similar fashion to the English FA if it becomes too common. In the League 1 match-up between Brentford and Rochdale, young Jason Kennedy was actually sent off with his second yellow card for the match after he celebrated with his own fans. Sad day for fan culture, and a sad day for football. Let's hope common sense prevails down under for once.
