Should Soccer Replace Football?

[Witis]

I was exaggerating somewhat when talking of life bans and Messi being the low-water mark but there should certainly be consequences. I'm not especially a soccer fan myself, nor any other type of football for that matter, but I believe that, at the top level at least, there are rules against diving but I think that they should probably be more severe. There's a bit of acting in every sport but, from what I've seen, soccer players take the cake.

Perhaps they are working on another career in case they get injured????

Even when there is genuine contact they roll around like they're dying when footballers in contact codes get worse many times over in a game and don't even blink.

I am not sure having half of you brain hanging out, or bones poking through your skin and not complaining about it is necessarily a strong point for rugby league or Australian Rules football!

At the top level, where players should be held to a higher standard and you do have the opportunity to look more closely, it should be an instant red card and repeat offenders should get suspensions. In my experience, the #1 criticism of soccer is that the players are soft cry-babies.

Nancy boys? Do you think they just parade around with their multi-million dollar global jet setting contracts and don't even need to take an elbow in the face or even any serious body contact on a regular basis? Do you think a sportsman's salary should depend on how much physical abuse he or she can handle and not just the skill on the field?

I admire their skill greatly but I feel like kicking them myself when I see that.

What is it that makes you drawn to watching a game of league or Aussie rules instead of a soccer match?

[jmcilhinney]

What is it that makes you drawn to watching a game of league or Aussie rules instead of a soccer match?

Nothing. As I said, I'm not particularly a fan of any football code. I can appreciate the skill in most sports and do in most football codes but I rarely choose to watch any. I did play both soccer and rugby league a bit as a kid but was rather ordinary at both. Cricket and basketball are my two favourite sports. Having played and watched quite a bit of basketball, I know how rough a non-contact sport can be but I don't remember the last time I saw a basketball player writhing on the floor holding his knee one minute and then up and chasing the ball the next.

[Witis]

Nothing. As I said, I'm not particularly a fan of any football code. I can appreciate the skill in most sports and do in most football codes but I rarely choose to watch any. I did play both soccer and rugby league a bit as a kid but was rather ordinary at both. Cricket and basketball are my two favourite sports. Having played and watched quite a bit of basketball, I know how rough a non-contact sport can be but I don't remember the last time I saw a basketball player writhing on the floor holding his knee one minute and then up and chasing the ball the next.

I haven't watched too many basketball matches although I wouldn't put it past some of the players to fake a foul if they could get away with it, not all of the players all of the time, just some of the players some of the time same as in the case of soccer.