And another thing ... Swearing

Ask any footballer, manager or supporter and he or she'll tell you that swearing is 'part of the game'. And with that stupid statement they dismiss it from any further discussion and accept that it is permissable to swear in and at football matches. Well forgive me for disagreeing and pointing this out, but I can't find any reference to it in the laws/rules of the game books and so it definitely isn't.

And blatantly obvious swearing by footballers (and TV/film stars) is mainly responsible for bringing it into the common language of young people. Most of us swear (yes, even me) but we know when it is appropriate and we don't use swearing as a form of disagreement with every decision that doesn't go our way.

And another thing ... Chewing

Although some players chew whilst playing (which is downright stupid and used to be banned) , it is mainly done by football managers in full view of the cameras - voraceous chewing and consumption of gum during matches.

And when they've finished one piece they spit it out on to the grass or touchline for some poor sod to clear up after them, before stuffing another piece in. They also leave all the wrappers to be cleared up by people regarded as menials.

Some of the most famous and well-respected football managers in the business do this - surely they are aware by now that they are being videoed and this will appear on TV. I can't believe they don't watch themselves, so why don't they change their behaviour?

And another thing ... Spitting

Every time a player does something (usually bad) he spits out. A missed shot on goal, a bad tackle, a decision taht goes against them. Players today have so much spittal they must must store it up all week to release it on Saturday. You never see them do it when they score. And they don't just spit, they play with in their mouth and then spit it in bursts, or roll in in their tongues and do little spits. This has nothing to do with wanting to clear their thoats, if it did they must all be very ill. It is merely a disgusting habit and a street 'style statement' to attempt looking cool.

Football Cheat #6 - Taking free kicks from the wrong place

Footballers always try to gain a few yards when they place the ball for a free kick. They never put it where the referee points, usually picking the ball up and throwing it up with backspin to land in a different position. Cheats!

Football Cheat #5 - Defensive wall encroachment

The 'wall' or line of players attempting to block a shot on goal from a free-kick, is a den of iniquity. There is so much pushing and shoving going on, but the main form of cheating is not moving 10 yards/metres away from the free-kick spot. In addition, the defending players usually move before the ball is kicked, trying to close down the kicker or put him off. It really gets my goat. Cheats!

Football Cheat #4 - throwing in

Very few thrown-ins are taken from the correct position. The player throwing in always tries to gain a few more yards/metres down the pitch and usually succeds. Referees rarely pick up on this form of cheating. Cheats!

Football Cheat #3 - diving

Diving is an established part of the professional football game. I'm sure that some clubs encourage and perhaps even coach diving. Diving only ever seems to happen in or near the penalty area, never in the player's own half. The aim is to gain a free kick (or penalty) in a position near the goal to enable a free-kick specialist to have a shot. It often happens near the end of a game when a team is losing and wants tp rescue the result.

Football Cheat #2 - holding, pushing and shoving

Players deliberately holding on to other players to prevent them moving really freaks me out. What more blatant form of cheating is there. The intention is clear, the result is obvious and players always deny that they've done anything wrong. Cheats!

Football Cheat #1 - shirt pulling

Shirt pulling is perhaps the biggest thing that annoys me in football today. It has become so common that referees ignore it for most of the time. What is even more annoying is when they either deny they've done it or claim that it insignificant. Cheats!

Football Cheats

Footballers are the biggest cheats in professional sport today. Everywhere you look in the game cheating is going on. They make me sick because they get paid so much for doing something they enjoy and yet still they cheat. They blatantly break the rules of the game in order to gain an advantage. Football is truly a 'game for gentlemen played by hooligans'. Cheats!