All eyes on FFSL

Rumour has it that little or no action would be taken against the football official who is alleged to have assaulted the referee after a semi-final encounter in the Ranpandu Soccer Tourney concluded last week.

The referee was only doing his job. Need he suffer assault for this?

If little or no action is taken against the culprit, then it would be a sad day for the wonderful game of soccer and all that it stands for.

In a fit of cowardice, the official is alleged to have assaulted the referee, who like a true sport took the assault and did not retaliate.

It is now up to the Referees Society to take the fight to the Football Federation, forwarding their reports, kicking and dribbling all opposition and not resting till that all important goal - that of severely punishing the coward is scored.

In Thilina Panditharatne, president FFSL the referees have a no nonsense man. He has just taken office and he would be on the right turf if he acts to put an end to this kind of uncivilised behaviour once and for all.

Rear Admiral Sarath Weerasekera, a vice President and Sunil Senaweera, Chairman of the Referees under whose wings the men who blow come under, should do their duty without fear or favour. Weerasekera and Senaweera who are sticklers for discipline, we are sure would deal the culprit his just desserts, however powerful he may be.

The punishment meted out should serve as a deterrent to others, unable to take defeat and would resort to this sort of unashamed thuggery.

Another school of thought has it that this individual should resign from all forms of the game and go mind his business and allow the law and the men who matter mete out the sentence or the punishment. But me thinks he would not be man enough and have the courage to admit his fault and beg forgiveness.

All eyes and ears would be focused on the President of the FFSL and the committees that matter watching and waiting as to what would be the fate of the alleged assailant. The FFSL must not be found wanting in expediting the matter without delay.

True that this individual has contributed much of his money and time for the progress and development of the player and the game. But he should have been well aware that it is not winning that matters but how one played the game. He should have been told that there have been instances where losers have been applauded and cheered more than the winners for being gracious in defeat. We will be watching.

Don't make it a mockery

One-day cricket or the 'cowboy game' was invented because Test cricket was beginning to be a bore, with batsmen mainly prodding, refusing to hit the ball for which it had been made and teams playing out draws.

The one-day game immediately became a hit with crowds flocking to take in the thrill a minute action, because batsmen were hitting the ball, forgetting technique, bowlers trying to fox the batsmen and the good things this game did was to improve one's fielding and bring in bags of money.

At the moment one-day cricket is enough of a mockery with batsmen playing the reverse sweep without informing the bowler and the bowler not being able to change from over to round without informing the umpire.

Also the game has been made further mockery with the 20twenty style being introduced. The International Cricket Council must see that the game is not further insulted and degraded by agreeing to Sunil Gavaskar's suggestion to have substitutes in the one-dayers.

Today every batsman knows and endeavours to hit the ball. It was Gavaskar who was a sad sight in this style of game with his prodding and poking. If Gavaskar's suggestion is accepted, then it would not be long when some bright spark would want to introduce clowns on to the field in some form or the other.

The one-day game has enough excitement. The ICC should see that it is not taken away.