Shameful Woodlands! You are a disgrace to Singapore Soccer!!

Singapore vs Thailand, Asean Football Championship 2007 Final, 1st leg. The Thais stormed off the pitch after the Malaysian ref incorrectly awarded a penalty to Singapore. Play was halted for almost 30mins, but eventually resumed after much persuasion by the AFF officials. I was cursing and swearing at the thais for displaying lack of sportsmanship and discipline. Never did I expect such a scenario to occur in our very own Sleague, a league whom the AFC has identified to be "refurbished" to one of the top 12 leagues in Asia. This absolute disgraceful act by the digusting woodlands was the 1st in the SLeague 12 yrs old history!



I wasnt at the game, I did not see the incident, but I suppose woodlands were outdone by the referee. How many times have the referee make worst decisions then that in the EPL, Champions league, or even international events like the World Cup? Many a times had Cristano Ronaldo dives deceived the referee, yet how did the opponents react? Yes, they reacted by shouting n cursing at the referee, but never has a team instigated a walk off just like wat shameful woodlands did!

Referees are just human beings like you and me, they are prone to error. Imagine Graham Poll issuing 3 yellow cards to the same Aussie player in World Cup last yr instead of showing the red card. Although the final result cannot be overturned, teams are able to appeal against the decision, which the relevant authorties will review and take necessary action against the ref, just like how Poll was sent home after the Australia vs Croatia game.

Yes, the referee might have made a mistake, but what do you aim to gain by storming off the pitch? Do you suppose the referee might "recall" the red card dished out? Or the ref to go around saying sorry and make things even by dishing out the red card to a tampines player? To read from TODAY tat the woodlands chairman was the person tat instructed his players off the pitch makes this even worst! As a leader of the club, he shld set an good example and go through the appropriate channel to solve this amicably, not to stir things up by performing such digusting act!

How can the club, which is one of the pioneers of the Sleague try to take matters in their own hand? I hope the Sleague comes down hard on them and whoever is the culprit behind tat insitgated the players off the pitch should be severely dealt with! May the culprits be banned from getting involved in the local soccer scene! This would serve as a deterrent to anyone trying to mess around with the referee. (Just look at the Super Reds, who protested against their captain sending off last fri by stopping play for abt 10mins)

As they say, theres no smoke without fire, the Sleague disciplinary committe shld at the same time, punish Mustafic for his play acting(if any).Soccer is a form of sports, not an acting game. Its time to win games with your ball skills, not with those Golden Horse awards!

Picture taken from TODAYONLINE