A Lesson In Class

And so another World Cup has come to an end and whilst most people seem to agree that the competition wasn’t quite the festival of football we had all hoped to see, that may just be the English amongst us who have rarely left a tournament with such a feeling of intense disappointment and disillusionment with our national side.

As we watched Germany not just beat us but completely humiliate us 4-1 there was one good thing that came from that defeat and it came about because of Frank Lampard’s “goal”.

In English minds, at least, we were beaten 4-2, not 4-1. Beaten as much by a stubborn old fossil who just happens to be the President of FIFA, as we were the Germans.

That Sepp Blatter has promised to look into the use of goal-line technology again after that incident is an encouraging sign and I only hope that something positive in that direction will ensue.

However, I think there’s something else that needs to be looked at and this won’t cost football any money and it is something that can be adapted from the grassroots level all the way to the very top with minimal effort.

It is a little thing that has been bugging me for quite some time now but watching the World Cup Final last night reminded me just how ridiculous a rule it is.

I am, of course, talking about booking players for removing their shirt following a goal.

Last night was always going to be historic whichever team won the game because neither nation had ever won the World Cup in their history.

The game was hard fought and goalless as extra-time ticked away and it was starting to look like history would be decided from the penalty spot. Then, up popped Andres Iniesta to bang in a superb winner with just a few minutes remaining.

It is one of those moments in life that the vast, vast majority of people will never experience. This was the World Cup Final and you have just scored the winner to make history for your nation. Just what, exactly, goes through a players’ head at that moment in time?

Well, for the classy Iniesta, his first thoughts appeared to go to compatriot, friend and fellow footballer who played alongside him as the two were coming up through the Spanish International ranks, Dani Jarque, who tragically died last year at the age of just 26.

As Iniesta wheeled away, he removed his shirt to reveal a shirt underneath with the words: “DANI JARQUE SIEMPRE CON NOSOTROS” printed on it which I believe translates as “Dani Jarque always with us”.

It was a magnificent gesture by a magnificent player and clearly a truly great man.

How does the game view such beautiful moments? Iniesta was given a yellow card for removing his shirt.

Sort it out Blatter, for pity’s sake!