I have written several articles previously about soccer and life illustrations, and, wait for it, it's soccer again. Soccer is in the news with the resignation last week of the President of FIFA after much international controversy.
In this article the soccer match I am addressing is a game in the China Super League (CSL), which was played on 16 May. The 2 teams were Chongqing Lifan and Niao Ling Hong Yun, Niao ling was the home team.
I didn't watch the full game on that day (Internet), as one of my friends from China came to Sydney. I was showing him around the city. However, I knew the end score was 1-1 (Internet). Actually, as the away team, Chongqing was pleased with a draw. But many Chongqing fans expressed their unsatisfaction towards their goal keeper, Wei Jie Sui. Their claim was that Sui was responsible for the draw coming away with 1 point rather than a 3 point win.
After watching the game highlights (Internet), I concurred with the fans. During the first half game, Chongqing scored to lead 1-0 then at the 84th minute, Niao Ling was fouled and won a free kick outside the box.
It was an outrage. What occurred was a farce as the situation did not require the referee's whistle to take the kick, it was simply a free kick. But the referee's awarding of the free kick was controversial as the replays illustrated and there was consdierable consternation by the defenders with the referee. While they were all surrounding the referee arguing the point, Niao Ling's player number 6 kicked the ball into the empty goal of Chongqing. The rules being what they are the goal was registered.
How did this happen? While the defenders were disputing the free kick, Chongqing's goal keeper Wei Jie Sui was taking a drink from his water bottle to the side of the goal. He assumed that play would not continue while this ruckas was taking place, and rather than concentrating by guarding his goal, he was drinking water in such a tense moment?
That momentary lapse in concentration resulted in a 1-1 draw and 1 point rather than taking home 3 points for a win.
Unthinking mistakes can be costly
Some might say the goal keeper is the last line of defence and like everyone makes mistakes. But, the fans have witnessed previous goalkeeping mistakes and were none too impressed. It was the nature of the referee's decision that the free kick awarded under the rules did not require a whistle to continue the match. Everyone should have been alert especially goalkeeper.
After the game, Sui apologised to the public about this mistake, but it was too late. In the following league match, 23 May, Sui was sitting on the bench for the entire game.
If Sui had been thinking about the honour of team work 100% of the game, the goalkeeping would have been very different. According to the fans and the team manager who left him on the bench for the following match, focus was an issue.
It is the same principle as a Christian in my daily life. I need to be considering what I do and say - might affect those - I love, those close around me, those in my network community. One little stupid unthinking mistake might cause huge a lot of harm.
Oscar Duan is from China, he has an accountancy degree from University of Hertfordshire (UH) International campus in Malaysia, and has undertaken further accountancy studies in Australia for accreditation here. He is married to Heyley.
Oscar Duan's previous articles may be viewed at www.pressserviceinternational.org/oscar-duan.html
