High School Football

FIFA Presses Israel Sanctions After Dropping Sanctions For Russia

January 22, 2023 by Katherine Knowles Leave a Comment

Netizens asked the Federation International de Football Association, or FIFA for short, to give a similar punishment to Israel as happened to Russia after it was removed from the 2022 World Cup and teams from Russia were banned from competing in the European arena.

Quoted from CNN Indonesia, the statement came from the legendary former Egyptian national team player, Mohamed Aboutrika. Through his Twitter account, Aboutrika considers that FIFA uses double standards in giving a warning to Russia due to its invasion of Ukraine.

Aboutrika thinks FIFA uses double standards in giving punishments

As quoted from Record via CNN Indonesia, Aboutrika considers that the decision to sentence was not balanced with punishment for those affiliated with Israel.

“The decision to punish Russian clubs and teams of all competitions must be accompanied by punishments against those affiliated with Israel,” said Aboutrika.

Apart from that, Aboutrika also considers that FIFA uses double standards in setting penalties for Russia.

“Israel is a country that has been killing children and women in Palestine for years. They (FIFA) use double standards,” added Aboutrika.

Apart from athletes, similar remarks also came from netizens who called for the world’s highest football organization to impose the same punishment on Israel and teams from Israel. This appeal can be seen from the many memes circulating on the internet that satirizes the double standards carried out by FIFA.

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Russia cannot compete in the 2022 World Cup in Qatar

Still reported by CNN Indonesia, FIFA imposed a severe penalty on Russia which resulted in Russia not being able to show off at the 2022 World Cup which took place in Qatar.

Apart from FIFA, the institution that sanctions Russia is UEFA or the Union of European Football Association. As a result, both men’s and women’s football originating in Russia were unable to appear in all FIFA and UEFA competitions.

This decision received various responses from netizens. Some agreed, but not a few were disappointed because they thought FIFA had mixed politics and football. Especially when FIFA and UEFA have never issued the same punishment for Israel, of course, it’s no wonder that many netizens think FIFA and UEFA have double standards.

The real reason why guys fall in love with soccer

January 22, 2023 by Katherine Knowles Leave a Comment

“The beautiful game” is the name pinned by fans for this favorite sport. Football is often said to be the most popular sport in the world, and many guys fall in love with it. Those who really love this sport have indeed received ‘guidance’ from the God of Football passed down through Pele, Maradona, Messi, or Ronaldo.

Guys who don’t like football have their own reasons to stay away from the hustle and bustle of this sport. Well, everyone has their own taste and opinion about their favorite sport. Then this is our opinion, football enthusiasts, why we love this sport so much.

1. Why Do We Like Ball? Because Football is a Universal Language

I’ve learned that soccer is truly universal. No matter where I go, that’s what kids are playing. That’s what people are talking about.

Bill Gates

To start a conversation with fellow guys, soccer is a light topic and can break the ice. In addition, this sport is also popular almost all over the world. So when you don’t know what to say to the Caucasian guy you met at the beach, just talk to him about the soccer match that was broadcast last night. Most likely he will understand.

Have you seen the film Cahaya Dari Timur? The film shows how football is something that unites a society in the midst of conflict. This sport does not necessarily bring peace, but its fun can make people forget about the problems that are happening for a moment.

2. Soccer Is A Sport That Makes Sense

Football is about joy. It’s about dribbling. I favor every idea that makes the game beautiful. Every good idea has to last.

Ronaldinho

One incoming shot from open play on the basketball court can count 2-3 points on the scoreboard. A touchdown counts 6-8 points in American football. Tennis is even more complicated by using a counting system of 15, 30, and 40 to win a game. In soccer 1 goal equals 1 point on the scoreboard. It makes sense and guys like things that make sense.

3. Boys did grow up with football

Of course, my father was a football player. He used to play very well. Then, when I was young, eight or nine years old, ten years old, I just want to be like my father.

First

Just like other children around the world, many Indonesian boys have grown up watching sports that their parents love. There was a time when you really wanted to watch cartoons on tv but your dad instead tuned in to badminton, boxing, or PON. Sometimes the father gives in, but most of us give up and watch what the father watches.

Slowly exercise begins to be ingrained in your mind. The large number of fathers who like watching football has finally influenced their children to enjoy this sport.

4. Football Looks Easy, Even though It’s Not So Easy

Soccer is simple, but it is difficult to play simply.

Johann Cruyff

At first, football looked like a simple sport: two teams (11 vs 11, 5 vs 5, basically even) won a ball and netted it into the opponent’s goal. The team with the most goals wins. But over time, this sport continues to develop into a sport that is quite complicated but still fun to play and watch.

Technology continues to develop, players’ abilities are never the same, sometimes they fluctuate and the coaches have to work extra hard to keep the tactics running smoothly. It’s a game that looks easy but is hard to beat.

5. Football is Close to the Name ” Passion”

Sometimes in football, you have to score goals.

Thierry Henry

There is no more powerful feeling than scoring a goal, and watching the ball you kick hit the net from several meters away. There is a great sense of pride when you succeed in practicing new tricks that you have been practicing for a week, to get past the opposing players. Apart from the passion that you feel when you play it, the player also transmits the same passion to his fans.

6. The Club That Makes Us Fall in Love

You can change your wife, your politics, your religion, but never, never can you change your favorite football team.

Eric Cantona

Apart from the debate over who is the greatest Pele or Maradona and who is richer Messi or Ronaldo, the main reason football fans love this sport is their love for certain teams/clubs. David Beckham is cool, but that doesn’t necessarily make (true) Manchester United fans follow suit to support Real Madrid.

7. The way they play soccer makes them fall in love

Possession of the ball is only a tool with which to organize yourself and cause disorganization in your opponent.

Pep Guardiola

Each team can change coaches, which automatically affects the tactics and strategies of the team on the field, but it’s the perspective of a club about the game that keeps fans loyal to it.

FC Barcelona believes that the way to win is to attack while having the ball as long as possible. Since the era of Johan Cruyff, Pep Guardiola to Luis Enrique, they have continued to play the same philosophy with the distinctive approach of each of the names above.

8. Football cannot be separated from deep-rooted traditions

Philosophy does not only apply on the pitch but can also be seen in the determination of a club to maintain its identity in the midst of the commercialization of football. Several European giants, such as Manchester United, continue to maintain their tradition of using young players from academy training. A tradition maintained since 1937.

9. The ability of the players really amazes

You have to fight to reach your dream. You have to sacrifice and work hard for it.

Lionel Messi

In the end, it is these people who actually play the ball on the pitch, not the fans let alone the club directors. Football fans almost certainly idolize all players who defend their favorite club, but in some cases, players need technique, ambition, achievement, and attitude to become a world soccer magnet.

Football is a sport played by millions (maybe even billions) of people around the world. So you have to respect people like Messi or Ronaldo who set aside those millions to be who they are and reach the highest level in football.

10. (Brain) The Trainers

Control is very, very important. If I lose control over these multi-millionaires in the dressing room, I’m dead. So, if they step out of my control, they’re dead.

Sir Alex Ferguson

Coaches or managers in British football terms are geniuses in football. They (the top coaches, of course) read the game and make tactical changes on the fly. Long before the match starts, the coach already has an idea of how his team will play and how the opposing team will play.

Outside of the technical matters of coaching and managing a club, a coach must have charisma and strong character to be able to manage, command, and protect dozens of players whose salary is far greater than his own.

11. Drama, Drama, Drama

Football is not about justice. It’s a drama – and criminally wrong decisions against you are part and parcel of that.

Pete Davies

Football is a tough sport, the players will fight on the field and you can see there is physical contact between them. The boys might proudly say, the intensity of soccer competition makes them willing to come to the stadium or stay up until morning to watch soccer. In fact, drama is what you are really looking for.

Like the Breaking Bad series, this guy really enjoys drama wrapped in psychological warfare, muscle fighting, genius, and a bit of violence to produce a sensation of adrenaline rush. Where else do we get that in a package besides football?

12. The 12th Man

Your love makes me strong. Your hate makes me unstoppable.

Cristiano Ronaldo

Being the honorary number 12 is a coveted position for fans. Fans are the reason why this sport continues to be played from time to time. The fans debate before the game, flock to the stadium or gather to watch on TV screens, then suck all their attention into the game.

Even after the game they always talk about who played well, who played badly, which team should have lost, or whether the referee changed the course of the match. Fans are without a doubt the fuel that keeps these players running on the pitch.

13. Football does have magical powers

Soccer is a magical game.

David Beckham

In a way, football is like Quidditch which is played without a broomstick. He has a magical power of its own. You can’t see it, but you can feel it. Maybe that was the moment you jumped for joy without realizing it when Manchester United scored 2 goals in three minutes after trailing 1-0 to Bayern Munich in the 1999 Champions League final.

The moment when the hairs on your neck stand up when you see Maradona comb from the middle of the field past 5 players (including the goalkeeper) before scoring a goal. Magical things like that make you continue to enjoy soccer.

No one can say that one sport is superior to another. Everyone has a personal taste and everyone is allowed to have an opinion. But these 13 reasons make us boys fall in love with soccer.

5 Exciting Things Football Fans Must Do While Visiting England

January 22, 2023 by Katherine Knowles Leave a Comment

Don’t say you’re a football fan if you don’t do these 5 fun things when you visit England. England is a country known as the birthplace of football. Starting as a game to relieve stress after work by urbanites during the industrial revolution, British urban residents made football a place to meet the community and have fun. So do not be surprised if the culture of watching football for British citizens has been formed for a long time. Even England has the oldest and most numerous football clubs in the world.

So, what are some fun things you can do in England as a football fan? Here, I will share the cheat sheet before you leave for England.

1. VISIT THE CITY OF MANCHESTER

Located in northwestern England, Manchester is a metropolitan city that is home to two of the main football clubs in Europe, namely Manchester United and Manchester City. Apart from using the plane, you can take the bus or train from Victoria Coach London Station to the city of Manchester. In this city, football fans can visit the National Football Museum and Old Trafford Stadium.

The National Football museum was built to preserve the football association’s collection. The collections contained in this museum come from the FIFA Book Collection, Football League, Football Association, FIFA Museum, and National Football collection. The museum is open daily from 10 am to 5 pm.

Old Trafford Stadium is located 4 km from Manchester city center. This stadium is the second largest stadium in England and has also been the headquarters of Manchester United since its inception in 1910. The stadium is divided into 4 stands namely Sir Alex Fergusson Stand, Sir Bobby Charlton stand, East Stand, and West Stand.

2. FOLLOW THE STADIUM TOUR

If you have a favorite club, then you should take a stadium tour to get to know your favorite club further. Apart from the Old Trafford stadium in Manchester, in London, there are several other touring stadiums such as Emirates Stadium- Arsenal FC, Stamford Bridge – Chelsea FC, and White Hard Lane – Tottenham Hotspur FC.

Due to limited time, I only had time to visit one of the stadiums, namely Emirates Stadium-Arsenal FC. To reach the stadium which is located in north London is not too difficult. We can take the tube and get off at Arsenal station. From Arsenal station, we just have to follow the directions to the station.

The proud stadium of The Gooners was inaugurated in 2006 with a capacity of around sixty thousand spectators. There are three tour packages offered by Emirates Stadium, namely the Museum Package for £ 8, the Legends Tour for £ 40, and the Self-Guided Tour for £ 20.

With a Self-Guided Tour you are given a virtual guide that you can listen to while walking around the stadium. Meanwhile, your Legends tour will be escorted directly by an Arsenal Legend like Lee Dixon around the stadium. The place that we explored during the tour is the Changing Room which is divided into two, namely for Arsenal and the opposing team and the Director’s Box where Arsenal officials and VIP guests can watch matches with the best views.

3. WATCHING A FOOTBALL MATCH

If you like watching football matches at stadiums, you can’t miss watching football at English stadiums. That said, the best atmosphere to watch a football game is in England. At least I felt it from the moment I got off the tube and joined the stream of football fans that filled the station. They move regularly towards the Emirates Stadium wearing slayer, head coverings, and their pride club shirts while shouting slogans or singing.

The atmosphere in the stadium was very lively because almost all the spectator seats were filled. You will feel the excitement of the football audience in England cheering and singing in support of their favorite club until after the match. British people have loved football for a long time so a culture of watching sports that is sporty, respectful, and regular has become their habit. Watching football is a culture that is exhilarating and contagious for visitors like me. If you go to England, don’t miss the opportunity to watch football at the stadium.

4. SHOP FOOTBALL trinkets

You definitely won’t be returning to Indonesia without a memento from your favorite club. So, you can shop for soccer merchandise as souvenirs at The Armory, Stadium Megastore, and Lilywhites. The Armory is located near the Emirates Studium and sells various Arsenal football kits. If you are a fan of the Arsenal club, you can get souvenirs and knick-knacks here.

Located at Stamford Bridge, the Stadium Megastore sells a variety of Chelsea club paraphernalia. If you are a fan of the Chelsea club then you can shop for all football equipment and souvenirs here.

Meanwhile, Lilywhites is a department store that sells sports equipment. Here you can get all the football equipment from various clubs in England.

5. ABSORBING THE ENERGY OF FOOTBALL SUPPORTIVELY

Apart from visiting exciting places and shopping for ball accessories, there is something we should absorb from this trip, namely the support of the match players and match spectators. If you are not a prospective soccer player, at least we can follow the example of how British people watch football in an orderly, safe, and supportive manner.

Indeed, the habit of watching football for English people has been formed for a very long time, but there is no harm in taking something good from them. Watching a football game is a joy to be gathered with a lot of passionate people. Winning or losing in a match must be accepted with a big heart and joy. Do not destroy what is a place where we can all gather and have fun.