Page 15 - Sports Energy News, Cornwall, Issue No 4

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Sports Pub Bar. Ron, Mike
and staff all have an OPINION
ON EVERYTHING Any Sport,
Any topic. They are open for

discussion and good times!!!

Mike O’Neill 1730 Vincent Massey Drive 613-932-1600 Ron Johnson

RANGATANG’s presents Sports Panel

At the 2012 Olympic games in London, the Womens Soccer team seemed well on its way to advancing to the gold medal game when a couple unusual
calls by the referee seemed to change the momentum of the game, allowing the US team to pick up the victory. Following the game, many of the Cana-
dian players, including captain Christine Sinclair were critical of the officiating. None of the Canadian players were suspended at the time as a result
of their comments, but were put on notice that further action might be taken following the games. Recently, Sinclair was suspended for four games and
fined by FIFA, Soccer’s governing body for “displaying unsporting behaviour towards match officials after the match.”

Do you think Christine Sinclair deserved to be fined and suspended for her actions following the game with the United States?

Jorge Luis Its always been said that to be an official in any sport you have to have thick skin. I don’t think
that applies today. I personally question the official’s calls myself. I think Sinclair and the
Canadian girls
were justified in their comments, and they should have been suspended right after if it was so
bad. We all know that politics play a role at that level of play. No question. Officials are human
and make mistakes however those athletes work so hard to reach that level they deserve the best
in officiating. They were simply venting after giving all they had. Officials must be respected
in the playing field but if comments to the international press were used to suspend those girls,
well so much for free press and freedom of speech. They are entitled to their opinion.

Sometimes, you have to speak up, damn the consequences. In any sport, you have to respect
Terry Tinkess
the role of the official, even if you don’t respect the person. Their job, as much as we like to
think otherwise, is not always black and white, and most of us couldn’t do it. In speaking up
immediately after the game about questionable calls, Sinclair was simply displaying the degree
of loss she felt. You don’t score three times in a game of that magnitude, then lose, and not
feel shattered. If it had ended there, I don’t think there would have been any suspension. The
comments that came a bit later, after having had the time to think, were something soccer’s
governing body had to deal with. To their credit, they waited, imposing a suspension that will
in all likelihood be served with little or no consequence. There is always a price to be paid, but
sometimes it is worth it.

Jim Riddell Christine Sinclair’s after the match comments to the official that led to this suspension cannot
be discussed as part of the disciplinary process. However, minutes later in an interview, she was
quoted as saying, “It’s a shame, that in a game so important, the ref decided the result before
it started”. Sinclair, an eleven year veteran of Canada’s National Woman’s Team, as captain,
would be experienced and well versed in dealing with both on field officials and the media.
Although Ms. Sinclair’s passion for the game and her level of intensity are admirable qualities,
she is responsible for her actions and must accept the consequences. FIFA is justified in handing
down this fine and suspension, and in doing so, establishes parameters that may help prevent
incidents like this in the future.

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