Gripe? Bet Ya!

Not sure the outcome of the Women's Word cup was just?

World cup winners

steal the show

under the cover of

a video assistant

referee review

as Morgan barges

raised Dutch leg

only to win the day

in a gloriously stroked

pseudo penalty.

Shoot out my eyes

as I wish

things could have been

different.

Orange was the colour

of my dream boat

as I wished the purple

patch would end

and the stars and stripes

fail to prevail.

Against England

the same video assistant

referee review vicissitudes

stopped White's

well taken score

and handed the USA

a path to glory.

Why oh why

have we ruined

the chance element

of human

judgement

adding spice

to sport

by reducing it

to replays

which still need

interpretation

without

scientific certainty?

Sometimes

a spot decision

is simply that,

spot on!

 

07/07/19

Author's Note

Reviews

[Chris Shaw]

What will be will be. My husband hates that video assistant, reckons it will ruin the game. I am relaxed about it. Not easy losing is it? Lol

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Ah but in this instance the video referee is interpreted by the flesh and blood referee. If one looks closer one sees that the Dutch defender raises her leg and Morgan runs into it, not the other way round and it was not a dangerous challenge. As for White's disallowed goal that was simply a travesty of justice in that both players were locked in a physical battle and (if the ball did strike her arm below the shoulder) it was unintentional and did not materially alter what happened next. It was a superb goal and I don't support England Chris! Being a rugby fan I am used to the Video Ref and it can go both ways but in rugby the nature of the game and the shape of the ball makes it somewhat simpler. Many thanks Chris!

[Chris Shaw]

What! You don't support the country where you live? Shame on you :))) I like watching rugby more. Good morning, oh and I love the Flower of Scotland anthem, and sing along to it. A fab anthem. Much better than ours. Have a good day John.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Aye I love 'Flower Of Scotland' very passionate and patriotic and more important it refers to one of the worst periods in Scottish history, the reign of Edward [Longshanks] I

[Chris Shaw]

So much butchery back then. So much nicer to be civilised. I am a great supporter of the union by the way.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Unsurprisingly given Scotland was blackmailed into the Act of the Union in 1707 following the Darian disaster and has since then seen oil revenue stripped from it and spent largely on London, I am not Chris, sorry lol!

[Chris Shaw]

Each to their own, peacefully I would say :)

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Indeed peacefully but when one consideres the way Northern Ireland was set up by Britain and the divisons in Scotland along the same sectartian lines (designed to keep the status quo) with the 'Orange Order' threatening war if Scotland gains independance one wonders what democracy is? Anyway not a subject many people understand nor care about lol

[Chris Shaw]

There are many blemishes in the history books. I try to move forward in conciliation, although not with the EU :))

[jacob erin-cilberto]

yes, i don't understand the rules of soccer no matter how much i watch it...of course i was happy for the US women...and they did play really well the whole tournament...but calls that are bad go against both sides...and it is just human error...i like how you express your opinion through this poem.
j.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Thanks Jacob I am simply being bitter lol!

[Paul Bell]

Must admit there were times in football matches when I thought the referee was just blind.
But now that I've seen V>A>R in action, I think a blind referee is definitely the best option.
Must admit, I did enjoy the world cup, some class acts out there.

[John Alexander McFadyen]

Yes but there have been two terrible VAR decisions in the past few days. But hey ho it aint'rugby! Cheers Paul.