Re: Serie A Thread - 2009/10 Season
you right, of course we need to ban all players who had these reactions. I wish Criscito's red card will be a start for a new rule. We all remember Totti's 3-time "fu** you" against Rosetti, where he got only a yellow: in this case you right, ALL must have the same punishment
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yes, that's something we could do, Leo. and as i said before that would probably solve the problem.... it would probably compromise an entire season, coz the players wouldn't change their attitude until the 5th 6th red card, and that means that AT LEAST 5 or 6 matches would be compromised, because of an insult. but if u think the result is worth the trouble, well yes, that might be a good measure.
but are we sure this would also be a "fair measure"? 2 thousands years ago, Cicerone (u english guys might know him as "cicero"), the most famous lawyer in history, said "
summum ius, summa iniuria". i'm gonna translate it for those of u (english or italians) who don't speak ancient latin. Cicerone meant to say that
the most rigid and strict application of a fair rule can bring the most unfair consequences. that because even if the fact wich implies the application of the law is always the same, the circumstances of each specific case might be different.
and that's why we leave such a large margin of discretion to our referees. because rules must be adapted to each specific situation (and the correct application of the rule isn't always the smartest play neither the fairest decision); therefore we gotta leave the ref a margin of appreciation, so he can judge whether he should or not apply the rule.
that totti situation u brought in gives me the perfect example. let's try to compare it with what criscito did. bot of them said f**k u to the ref.... they should face the same punishment.... but are u sure that would be fair? let's remember what brought totti to insult the ref.
the beginning of the last season... roma was facing one of his most tragic moments in the last 20 years. they couldn't win a game to save their lives, they were totally lost, and they were in the middle of their longest loosing streak in their history.
the pressure was unbearable for the players. our english friends here can't even imagine what i'm talking about, but i'm sure u can. totti and his teammates couldn't get out of their homes, not even to buy a newspaper... u can't go out (ever!) u can't watch tv, and for God's sake, don't even think to turn the radio on, as that would be a suicide! u can just sleep, eat and go to the clubhouse for training session.... hoping sunday u'll win and this situation will finally end.
sunday arrives, and 15 mins to the final whistle, u're not winning the game.... another week of hell is ahead of u.
but suddenly totti get a clean scoring chance... it's pretty much like a penalty, as there's nobody between him and the goalkeeper... he prepares for the shoot and all of a sudden the ref pops out of nowhere and puts himself right on totti's shooting trajectory.....
scoring chance wasted, just a few minutes to the final whistle, and u're already thinking what is expecting u... other 7 days of hell before having another chance to put an end to roma's crisis.
the ref asks sorry, but of course u don't even listen to him... u're so mad u would byte his head off, so who cares about apologises. so, since biting his head off might have serious consequences, u do the next best thing: u say to him a big, fat, loud "vaffanculo" ("f**k you").
he was rude and unpolite, no doubt about it.... but can u really blame him? do u think this is the same as saying fuck u to the ref coz he didn't see someone making a foul on u (like criscito did)?
that's why leaving a margin of discretion to the ref is usually the smart play. of course that also leaves an opening for the (bad) situation Giampaolo mentioned sunday ("top players like totti or gattuso usually get a softer treatment by refs, speaking of insults").
so, all in all, it's a tough call, as there are good reasons to leave the situation as it is right now... aswell as there are good reasons to follow your suggestion.
as u certainly realised i'm not saying your idea isn't a good one. i'm just saying "it will solve this issue, but it will cause a different problem"
gotta run now, next time, i'll spend a few words about the diving issue, as i believe it's a completely different situation, wich can't be addressed with the same instruments (red cards or retroactive bans).
however i don't use any gel at all.... just a comb and some water..... (i seriously doubt that 
)
i hope u guys got a chance to watch this match.
Hopefully there will be a re-run of it during the week.
