Can we all chip in to pay for a hit on that ref?

[DJ Tera]

Swiss - neutral my arse :flame:


I hope the England fans find out which hotel he's staying at!

[Edited on 25-6-2004 by Webteam]

[dickieducati]

got to say, i think he was right. i'm gutted but if it had been the other way round and the goal allowed, the headlines would be the same today. at the end of the day we are simply not good enough (again)

[TP]

I've watched the footage over and over again and I can't see how Sol's header was not a goal - for me it was a clear goal and England were robbed.

I was sitting here at home thing this ref is a shocker - where was Collina when you needed him!!

And I'm an Aussie!!

[dickieducati]

sorry to butt in,

tp you going to be fit for track attack 3 ????

[Edited on 25-6-2004 by dickieducati]

[TP]

To be honest I'm not sure. The Doc reckons I can tackle 3 months after the op which would be 30 Sep (I've booked the CSS days for 28 Sep and 5 Oct) so I think I can. If I can tackle then the shoulder must be able to stand up to some rought treatment.

I'm going to speak to him today and, depending on what he says I think I'll book it.

Can't miss all the DSC days in one year - it'd be a bit rude!

[Edited on 25-6-2004 by tp-996]

[TP]

Originally posted by weeksy
simple fact lads. His decision has been give 1000's of times in all leagues this season. Whether it's right or wrong isn't important. It's the common decsion. i'd have been more suprised if he had actually allowed it to be honest.

I know I'm not the foremost authority on football but what was wrong with the Sol goal? I know they go silly whenever there is contact with the goalkeeper but there was clearly no contact with him - he fell over looking for that whistle!

All credit to him though, slotting the last penalty past James!

[baylissboy]

I'm not really into football,but that's the last swish roll i buy!!:P

[MJS]

Think Dickie's right on this one - we would have moaned like hell if it had been the other way round - goalkeepers are overly protected, but we all know that and it's just the way the game is these days... and there's no denying that John Terry did have his arm across his shoulder - not saying it was intentional, not saying it impeded him any more than his being on the back foot from the first effort... but it would have been a suprise to see the goal allowed to stand...
Still gutted though...

[Ian]

the issue with the ref last night as Wrigtie said, - he was a "homer", - and he seemed to have a real problem with Ashley Cole and Verselle. The other big big problem he had was his positioning, - a couple of times he was in the way of an England pass towards the end of the game, - where I think Hargreaves had to hold back for a second on a break.
I thought England would go through on pens last night, - can't go out again this way??? How wrong. :(

[antonye]

What I want to know is why the ref allowed play to continue after the ball had been picked out of the back of the net?

Surely if it was a foul, as the ref claims, then he would have blown his whistle and awarded the free kick, not allowed play to continue *after* a player had handled the ball?

There's no excuse for it - the ball had gone out of play as it crossed the goal line and you simply cannot play on after such an event.

The ref was absolutely shocking and gave some terrible decisions. Contrast the stop-start nature of this game with the way Collina lets his games flow and you've got the two ends of the spectrum.

I'm not the best authority on football either, but I have played at club level (come on you yellows!) and know the difference between a good and bad ref!

[TP]

The way I saw it was that the ref blew the whistle because the keeper was pushed when Sol's header went in. Looking at where he fell he was falling into Terry and Sol and ended up all over their feet. If he was pushed then the only player who could have pushed him in that direction was his own player standing behind him - not an England player. Thats why I think it was a fair goal and the ref cocked it up!.

I was a neutral watching that game and although I think England started playing crap after Rooney went off I think the ref was biased against them and there were plenty of calls I saw which went against Cole and Vassell which left me scratching my head! For example, Vassell walking into the flight of the ball with his eye's on the ball, Deco jumps up to header the ball, climbs all over Vassell's back and falls on the ground, Vassell gets cleaned up but holds his feet - ref rules that Vassell has fouled Deco and awards a free kick to Deco - WTF!!!!

The game will miss Collina - he certainly knows how to let the game flow and talk to the players rather than just bring out the card or blow the whistle.

[Desmondo]

The ref was useless. This isn't a "sour grapes" commment, I was saying throughout the game when we were 1-0 up. So many of his decisions left me laughing in disbelief. Secondly, I'll hold my hands up to the fact we didn't play that well at all, but I put this mainly down to Sven being tactically inept. His substitutions are just so negative :( . We get a lead and then instead of pushing on he tries to hold out. I think the killer for me last night was when he subbed Gerrard for Hargreaves. My mates were asking me a few minutes before "what would you change?". I told them nothing. Change absolutely nothing. We've held out this long, we've got 10 minutes to go, why change? Why upset the style of play? We've got nothing to gain and everything to lose from a change. What happens? He makes the sub and then we concede a goal :flame:

I've never liked Sven's tactics and this just confirms my feelings.

[Ray]

I could see why it was a foul, Terry had his arm over the goalies shoulder preventing him from jumping up at the ball. Replays from a certain angle showed this clearly. There we loads of other if and but moments in last night game not just this one.

Controversial decisions/**** ups in sport are a fact of life, anyone for Tennis??

Luckily in kickball it isn't a matter or life and death unlike those sometimes made in motorsport.

Ray

[Rocker]

As a Republic of Ireland supporter and therefore completely unbiased :rolleye:I think the Ref was totaly correct
As a Spurs supporter I think Judas (Cambell) was completely at fault and should have been sent off banned for life jailed for 5 years then deprted to Iraq. Of course I have nothing against the guy personaly.
:lol:
How about that penalty by Postiga Cheeky or what? If only he could do that sort of thing at the Lane

[Nattyboy]

If like me...you are a little disgruntled about the 'ref'..you can always send him a direct e-mail (found from his own website believe it or not !!)......keep it nice and constructive like I did though...NOT!:devil::devil::devil:

urs.meier@ursmeier.ch

Nat

[dickieducati]

Originally posted by Rocker

As a Spurs supporter I think Judas (Cambell) was completely at fault and should have been sent off banned for life jailed for 5 years then deprted to Iraq. Of course I have nothing against the guy personaly.
:lol:


aparently he's moving house again not enough room for all the silverware;)

you recon you'll get more that half our total points this season ?????:lol::lol::lol:

[Henners]

.. and help repair that Portugese pub some England 'supporters' thrashed last night in Norfolk? Beautiful game my ar$e :flame:

[dickieducati]

call me old fashioned, but if you want a portugese pub, keep it in portugal.

[TJ]

It was definately a foul, not a push as the ref said, but Terry had his arm on the goal keepers shoulder... enough said.

[Rocker]

Originally posted by dickieducati
[

you recon you'll get more that half our total points this season ?????:lol::lol::lol:
Remember the old adages Don't laugh at those below you as you may meet them on your way down
also When you are at the top the only way is down:D:D:D

[TP]

Dickie - you'r old fashioned!

:lol: :lol:

[dickieducati]

Originally posted by Rocker
Originally posted by dickieducati
[

you recon you'll get more that half our total points this season ?????:lol::lol::lol:
Remember the old adages Don't laugh at those below you as you may meet them on your way down


you should be on the stage. :lol::lol::lol:

[Rocker]

Originally posted by dickieducati
call me old fashioned, but if you want a portugese pub, keep it in portugal.
So should all the English & Irish bars be removed from Portugal and Spain?
This is the sort of Jingonistic attitude that breeds the sort of English football hooligan that do their country so proud

[MarkyMark76]

I think the fact that the two best players for England last night were Campbell and Cole says it all about the game. The midfield were an embarrasment.

I can;t understand why Portugal did not play Ronaldo on the left, he would have raped Beckham and Neville all night long. As it was Cole did magnificently against him. Although saying that Portugal were not short of people going forward on either side.

And another thing.... Offering the "Portugal have had 24more hrs to recover for the game" excuse is just pathetic. These "men" (and i use the term loosely) are payed a fortune to be in peak physical condition at all times. If they are not fit enough why are they there??

The best team won on the night, but it must be a great comfort to have the excuse "we were robbed" to hide behind rather than "we played shite and did not deserve to win" untill the next tournament...:frog:

[Rocker]

Originally posted by Henners
.. and help repair that Portugese pub some England 'supporters' thrashed last night in Norfolk? Beautiful game my ar$e :flame:
Yes it is a beautifull game. However like many things it is spoilt by SOME of those that latch on to it as an excuse for violence. Even motorcycling has suffered from this problem at times

[MarkyMark76]

Originally posted by dickieducati
call me old fashioned, but if you want a portugese pub, keep it in portugal.

Your old fashioned.

[dickieducati]

Originally posted by Rocker
Originally posted by dickieducati
call me old fashioned, but if you want a portugese pub, keep it in portugal.
So should all the English & Irish bars be removed from Portugal and Spain?
This is the sort of Jingonistic attitude that breeds the sort of English football hooligan that do their country so proud

suits me, when i go away i like to get into the culture of the country i'm in, not walk into a pub exactly the same as where i just came from.

just playing devils advocate really, sorry.

cant condone any violence or hooliganism towards anyone.

[Desmondo]

Originally posted by Henners
.. and help repair that Portugese pub some England 'supporters' thrashed last night in Norfolk? Beautiful game my ar$e :flame:
Now now Henners, you know this has nothing to do with the "Beautiful game" and more to do with the yobbish culture that is developing in this country due to virtually zero fear of any real punishment.

[Henners]

You're right Jim - if it wasn't football the hologans would gravitate to some other tribal meeting post. Sad that England has come to this.

Just a thought, I wonder how much it's going to cost to clear up all the St George flags I see littering the roads up and down the country?

[Henners]

http://free.one.picturehost.co.uk/becks2big.jpg

[TP]

And the hits just keep coming ...

[TP]

How do you get it to put the picture in the post as opposed to just a link?

[Rocker]

Originally posted by dickieducati
[
suits me, when i go away i like to get into the culture of the country i'm in, not walk into a pub exactly the same as where i just came from.

just playing devils advocate really, sorry.

cant condone any violence or hooliganism towards anyone.
So following your idea that we should not have Portugese pubs in england the we should also do away with Indian Chinese & Italian resteraunts. Speaking of Italian things of course nobody should sell Italian motorcycles in England on English ones. If we want to take this to it's logical conclusion we should do away with Aberdeen Steak Houses (Scottish) pubs selling Guinness (Irish) Mc Donalds(American) in fact anything that is not English. why not go back to the middle ages when most people didn't travel and come back with all these fancy ideas.

[antonye]

Originally posted by tp-996
How do you get it to put the picture in the post as opposed to just a link?

RTFM :D

Have a look at the FAQ (link under the logo at the top of each page) about linking to images. They need to be hosted on a website.

[dickieducati]

Originally posted by Rocker
Originally posted by dickieducati
[
suits me, when i go away i like to get into the culture of the country i'm in, not walk into a pub exactly the same as where i just came from.

just playing devils advocate really, sorry.

cant condone any violence or hooliganism towards anyone.
So following your idea that we should not have Portugese pubs in england the we should also do away with Indian Chinese & Italian resteraunts. Speaking of Italian things of course nobody should sell Italian motorcycles in England on English ones. If we want to take this to it's logical conclusion we should do away with Aberdeen Steak Houses (Scottish) pubs selling Guinness (Irish) Mc Donalds(American) in fact anything that is not English. why not go back to the middle ages when most people didn't travel and come back with all these fancy ideas.

well you can certainly keep you angus steak houes, guinness and mc donalds due to the fact they're all crap. :lol:

but i like all the rest so lets keep them.

tell you what, if we dont like something how about we dont go there? oh thats what i already do. called freedom of choice i believe.

[BDG]

Whats tour rates?

[Rocker]

Fully agree with your last scentance.
Would love to continue debate but I'm just loading the Multistrada to go to Beaulieu for the week-end

[Ian]

Sir,
I should like to say how much I enjoyed your refereeing last night. It is a pleasure to see an impartial adjudicator carrying out his duties without fear of the home team/supporters. Your eyesight is obviously 20/20 because I found it most impressive that you were able to spot an England foul in the 90th minute to disallow a goal when not even the most modern technology within current camerawork was able to detect a semblance of an offence.

Your decisions regarding yellow cards were also admirable as they had the effect of evening out the match, thus making a game of it, thereby allowing the hosts to progress further and add to the excitement of a fun penalty shoot-out, even though you may have allowed this 'sudden death' to be decided from a quagmire of a penalty spot.

Once again, many thanks from all your England fans for giving us such a fascinating topic of conversation over the ensuing weeks and we very much look forward to welcoming you to our country at your earliest convenience!

Yours most sincerely,

An admirer


his website seems to have been down?

http://www.ursmeier.ch/referee/index.html

[Felix]

Well, at least motorbikes is one of his hobbies. Maybe he even ride a Ducati.:lol:

[Athelstan]

We lost - they won - and the ref was dreadful to both teams. Thankfully there are other things in life so much more beautiful than football - my 5mth young daughter, her mum, and my ducati. Plus loads more too many to mention. Isn't living great - shame it comes to an end one day:)

[weeveetwin]

I wonder how much of England's defensive attitude/tactics stems from the influence of Steve McLaren? Is Sven really to blame? Middlesbrough play this way every week if they score first. They sit back and defend like hell. So who's teaching who?

[Triple Nine]

Now it makes sense!

[Triple Nine]

Now it makes sense 2

[Triple Nine]

Now it makes sense 2

[Paul James]

Have to confess that my reply isn't from a football fanatic, far from it as I think it is a boring game by and large. The players set a bad example to youngsters with their unsportsmanlike behaviour, they are a bunch of prima donna's, look at the wonder boy Beckhams attempt at scoring a penalty, pathetic isn't in it.

However much patriotism you care to show you can't help but admit that the England team, apart from a few exceptions, played really badly last night. If one of my employees made such a lacklustre attempt at doing a job he was being payed for I think I'd have to put him on notice. These people are given a small (sorry make that obscenely LARGE !!) fortune to play the so called "beautiful" game. They should all be made to pay back any money they've received from attending this championship and go and compete in the world pocket billiards competition.

How is it that we hear of so much trouble at football matches when massive crowds at rugby matches and motor sport events are able to control themselves ??.

Tin hat on :flame::flame:

[DJ Tera]

Originally posted by Henners
.. and help repair that Portugese pub some England 'supporters' thrashed last night in Norfolk? Beautiful game my ar$e :flame:

Nah, my idea is much better :)

[psychlist]

I'm with you Paul, it's just not cricket anymore ;)

Didnt see the game but from what i saw in the slo-mo replays on the Beeb this morning of the England player's arm over the goalkeepers shoulder pulling him down I dont see how the goalkeeper could have had a fair chance nor how anybody could complain at the ref's decision?

What did make me laugh was the way they repeated one Brit commentator's exclamation about the way that the "penalty spot MOVED" when Beckham took his kick :lol:

Anyway, let's see if Iban Mayo, Fat Jan, or anybody else for that matter, does the biz on old Lancy in the next few weeks :devil:

[DJ Tera]

At least Greece kicked the bloody Frenchies out :sing::sing::sing::sing::sing::sing::sing::sing::s ing:

[Desmondo]

Originally posted by Paul James
Have to confess that my reply isn't from a football fanatic
No need for this bit. The rest of your post made it obvious :lol:

[TP]

Originally posted by psychlist
Anyway, let's see if Iban Mayo, Fat Jan, or anybody else for that matter, does the biz on old Lancy in the next few weeks :devil:

Fat Jan? I didn't think Ulrich was that big!

I think this years challenge will be biggest from one of his old team mates - th efella tat broke his collarbone last year - for gotten his name?

Anyway, I really hope Lance gets it to be honest, he's been an absolute champion!

[TP]

Originally posted by psychlist
Anyway, let's see if Iban Mayo, Fat Jan, or anybody else for that matter, does the biz on old Lancy in the next few weeks :devil:

Fat Jan? I didn't think Ulrich was that big!

I think this years challenge will be biggest from one of his old team mates - the fella that broke his collarbone last year - for gotten his name?

Anyway, I really hope Lance gets it to be honest, he's been an absolute champion!

[TP]

Originally posted by psychlist
Anyway, let's see if Iban Mayo, Fat Jan, or anybody else for that matter, does the biz on old Lancy in the next few weeks :devil:

Fat Jan? I didn't think Ulrich was that big!

I think this years challenge will be biggest from one of his old team mates - the fella that broke his collarbone last year - for gotten his name?

Anyway, I really hope Lance gets it to be honest, he's been an absolute champion!

[rcgbob44]

I hate football, but respect that it gives others extreeme pleasure, so now all you knuckle draggers can take your little flags orf of your metal boxes.:o

[psychlist]

Tyler Hamilton!?! Be exceptional if he could, always was one of those classified as an "also-ran" until he did so well with a bust collar bone :o Don't mind if Lancy "the Boss", as he styles himself, does win so long as it's a bit closer, shameful perhaps, but I want to see a RACE! :P

[TP]

Well, it was closer last year. And it was Hamilton I was thinking of too -great ride last year.

I never thought I would find myself interested in cycling but here I am getting into it - evening knowing cyclists names!

[Ian]

Originally posted by psychlist
I'm with you Paul, it's just not cricket anymore ;)

Didnt see the game but from what i saw in the slo-mo replays on the Beeb this morning of the England player's arm over the goalkeepers shoulder pulling him down I dont see how the goalkeeper could have had a fair chance nor how anybody could complain at the ref's decision?

What did make me laugh was the way they repeated one Brit commentator's exclamation about the way that the "penalty spot MOVED" when Beckham took his kick :lol:

Anyway, let's see if Iban Mayo, Fat Jan, or anybody else for that matter, does the biz on old Lancy in the next few weeks :devil:

unfortuantley cycling is not a pure, clean sport to be admired by youngsters perhaps? David Miller news yesterday? Trouble is now every sport has too much big money attached to it.


And have to sat that I disagree with your judgement on the goal scored by Sol. David Ellery (very respected ex-ref) judging it yesterday claimed it a clean goal as did many refs from around the world, - the Swiss Banker has now claimed the whistle was blown for an earlier push by Sol, - still no evidence of that. As DE said the problem is that the ref was not in a position to see what happened, - so he assumed something when he saw the goalie go down.

And to read PJ's comments, - sorry PJ but it aint that simple.

Football in the UK does have a problem; - it has become part of a class divide, we unlike other countries (Brasil) where the likes of Edmundo who is from a very rich family play alongside the likes of Rivaldo, a street kid from the NE of Brasil. I actually think this is part of England’s left sided problem; left handed left footed people are by in large of a different mind-set and can be judged as being more intelligent. The last good naturally left footed player to play for England was Graeme LeSaux, - and look at the rubbish he took for being a bit more intelligent, - somehow the likes of Robbie Fowler associated his intelligence with him being gay. Good one Robbie, it just proved his ignorance.
To knock a player has a overpaid prima-dona is not looking deep enough, - he is paid what market forces dictate or allow, - his appeal is wide, he gets paid accordingly. The fact that he may be from an uneducated poor background and have little idea of how to deal with the new fame is not surprising.

Football is a wonderful game, as it in most countries brings people together from all backgrounds, and without doubt brings people together from different nations. It does not require any expensive kit (tell that to my 5 year old), it can be played with an old coke can. I have seen the village scrub pitch where Rivaldo stared his playing. The street urchins still today kicking round a football, - it is their life, - it is their best chance of escaping the background that they were born into, - with the hope that they like Rivaldo and Ronaldo can return one day and rebuild the flavala (shanty town) into a proper village with water, electricity and schools.

And in the UK, anybody heard of "Football in the community"?, and the wonderful work that does? Complete ICT suites to teach the under-privileged and un-educated (Jonathon Woodgate was told he should go try and use the suite), - all funded by the UK teams. Charltons work against racism in the game and community?

Remember to most people the ownership of a Ducati is quite bizarre, - a Skoda can get us from A to B, but we derive great pleasure from something that is very baffling to others.

sorry, - i edit this as the tone come accross wrong, it was meant with a bit of humour and on reading it again I seem to have left it out.

:roll:

[Edited on 26-6-2004 by Ian]

[psychlist]

Ahh, the "old" story of cycling not being a "clean" sport eh? :P
Surely you're not the sort of person to think it's ONLY cyclists that ever use drugs? It's only recently that other sports have STARTED to introduce the level of testing that cycling has been putting into place since the Festina saga years ago, you know that Ian!
Why have the FA not approved or sanctioned drug testing in line with the recommendations of WADA? Oh, sorry, of course, how silly of me, I must have forgotten, the FA (along with most other sports that used to think it's easier to turn a blind eye) think they know more about the subject than the World Anti Doping Agency, how silly of me to think that the international "experts" would know more than the main authority (the FA) behind the biggest advertising hoarding (Football) currently available in this country ;)
How can we possibly expect people to have any respect for others or for authority when they only have those namby pamby hoity toity airy fairy "prima donna's" to look up to :lol:
Spitting at the ref and arguing every decision he makes is a terrific example for people, kids especially, to follow isn't it!?!
One of my ex-workmates used to play for Portsmouth FC until forced out thro' injury several years ago when he took up refereeing. Any of you playing in local leagues will know about the lack of Officials. He stopped last summer after he'd been assaulted three times that year, twice the year before and had his car trashed by local club "players" who "disagreed with his decisions. Maybe that's just the Portsmouth area for you, I dunno? But if the pro's bust up a bar and we laugh at it, or a pro argues the toss with the ref and we shout abuse at the ref on TV, if you can afford a Sky subscription, can we say we're too different to the so-called "minority" of thugs that supposedly follow teams around just to make trouble?
Is it ONLY football games that this happens at?
For heavens sake even this thread has recommended we send hate mail to his website and even MURDER the referee because he made an unfavourable decision in a GAME! :puzzled:

Can't remember which famous Liverpool manager (they're Coaches now aren't they?) said that "Football isn't a matter of life or death, It's more important than that", was it Bill Shankley? Whoever it was got it right, it seems to be increasingly more akin to a battle field that grips the whole nation!

Wish I had a fraction of the stamina of Armstrong who can manage 3 weeks of cycling over 100 miles a day, near enough every day, over anything from slimy wet cobbelstones to the high Alpine passes. Then I might be able to do his sport a bit of justice in this argument. I'm out of breath now I've rambled on so much. I'll sit back in the trench with my tin hat on for a while.
I'm happy to disagree with anyone if I feel the need, so over to you lot :devil:

[Edited on 26-6-2004 by psychlist]

[Ian]

right then, debate time :D been a while since we had a good old debate... You are not wrong about anything you say Paul, just that by saying it I feel you are only seeing one side of the footie argument and by doing so are contributing to it being a divide.

You are right about the less than savoury elements in footie, - I made the mistake of taking my youngster for a walk across the park to stop and watch at a Sunday league game, - ok bad language exists and you are not going to hide it from your children these days, - but the hatred and aggression aimed at the ref was a disgrace. In a game of Rugby you call the ref Sir, - he who is to be obeyed. However the social and class divide within footie will not get any better if those that are not part of it keep knocking it without imo fully understanding it.

Footie is a game that nearly everybody can play, - as I said above even without a ball, - it is a universal game (and as an aside something we can do better than the USA, for a short while longer). The story of the WW1 no mans land games on Christmas day? It really is just a bit of fun that should not have barriers within it, and by knocking it all the time and not seeing the good within it is only building those barriers higher (sorry repeating myself).

My comments on the cycling drug abuse are from direct experience within the sport. I don't knock the sport for the sake of it, - Le Tour de France is the greatest sporting event of the world. A few years ago I managed a Mountain Bike race team and a couple of my riders were GB juniors within road racing who would come back here to the UK for the winter and muck around on MTB's. They would ride through the summer getting those miles into their legs based out of Belgium, - and they would win live chickens for sprints!! But they both gave up road racing as they were expected to take stuff where the manager would not tell then what was in it, - when they questioned it they were told if you want to ride for me, you do what I tell you to do. They were expected to put butterflies into their biceps under the jersey sleeve and connect it to what was handed to them out of the team car in the last 10km. This was not isolated to this team, - another guy I knew in those days rode for Carrera as a Chiapucci lieutenant, - as he would say, you may stop taking the stuff when you get to the top but along the way you have not a clue what you have been given.

I think it the sad state of all sports that drugs are involved in nearly everything, and yes I do believe that cycling has been for many many years one of the worst abusers of them all, - even the blood doping of the Russian Olympic team going back many years. Blood doping is where you take a pint of blood out, let you body regenerate its replacement and then put the pint back in that you first took out. Why do many cyclists die when they get into their retirement?

Football is far from perfect but it is all too easy to knock it without acknowledging what a great game it is for millions of people around the world, - I gave up playing when I was about 13 and played Rugby for school instead, in truth I can take it or leave it, but as a dad of a 5 year old I recently had to think about my sons request to join in with his mates at school and do some football training with Chelsea as part of their "Football in the community". Do I say no, I would rather you mix with the "better" kids and learn to play rugby, or do I let him see part of the real world, learn bad language, how to spit etc. I chose to let him play his football; I hope that parental guidance will teach him that the poor behaviour of some is not to be followed. I also think that as a sport for a 5 year old footie can't be beaten for teaching team involvement, balance, hand (foot) eye coordination etc. And his mother being Brasilian it kind of limits his acceptance into Brasilian culture with his cousins if he can't play the game.