Even ball boys flop in soccer

[nawlinsgator]

Even ball boys flop in soccer...check this out:
http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/st...cident?cc=5901

They made a big deal out of it, but the ball boy was obviously stalling.

[gatorev12]

Not sure how you can say it was a "flop" since Hazard clearly kicked him.

Doesn't matter if the ball boy was stalling or not--one of them is a professional and should have the intelligence/maturity to not react like.

[GunGator]

Not a flop, but I would have to see a photo of the injury to justify that much wailing on the ground. Sure a top notch soccer player can kick hard, but I think the kid was playing it up.

Still, it was a despicable act by Hazard.

[buckeyegator]

can not believe that people could not see that the ballboy fell on the ball, not needed to do if you just have to give the ball to the player, and clearly was not going to get up and let play continue, stalling for time, just like when a defensive player lays on the runner and will not let him up., just a ploy to waste time, total unprofessional on his part also.

[JerseyGator01]

The kids must watch the NBA for lessons.

[gatorev12]

Originally Posted by buckeyegator

can not believe that people could not see that the ballboy fell on the ball, not needed to do if you just have to give the ball to the player, and clearly was not going to get up and let play continue, stalling for time, just like when a defensive player lays on the runner and will not let him up., just a ploy to waste time, total unprofessional on his part also.

The ball boy isn't a professional for starters and the referees always add extra time at the end of the game to make allowances for total time the ball is out of play. The smarter thing for the player to do is point out the time wasting to the referee--who would have added a couple of seconds to the end of the game to allow for it.

Plus, the ball wasn't supposed to have been given to the player who ended up kicking him. When the ball went out of play, it was going to the GK for the other team, Hazard had no right to demand it from him. Period.

[buckeyegator]

added extra time is for injury, time to restart after goals, not for balls that go out of play, and yes, the ballboys are paid by the home club, and are thus professionals. what would have happened if the home team was losing, and the visiting team coach would slap the ball away from the player, they would complain, the idea of fair play is not to stall unneedely.

[demosthenes]

Originally Posted by gatorev12

Not sure how you can say it was a "flop" since Hazard clearly kicked him.

Doesn't matter if the ball boy was stalling or not--one of them is a professional and should have the intelligence/maturity to not react like.

What's clearly obvious I'd that both player and ball boy were in the wrong.

Also what's clearly obvious is that Hazard intended and in fact kicked the ball out from under the kid. Did his shin make contact with the kid? I'm sure but how much is debatable. We used to poke balls out from teammates sitting on them and it wasn't that difficult to do without hitting the other person hard.

While stupid and likely from being caught up in the moment, I don't find Hazard's actions egregious. Suspendable but not overly long.

[medigatorx]

Sorry, to me it looks like punk kid was intentionally laying on the ball for some reason and wouldn't let the player have it (heck, if you google the incident, apparently the kid had bragged on his twitter account before the game that he was going to do just what he did!) The player wanted none of it so toe kicked the ball out from under the kid, picked up the ball, and tried to get back in the game. If the player had really reared back and kicked the kid, I'd feel different. Player got a raw deal getting kicked out.

[Nicho]

Originally Posted by JerseyGator01

The kids must watch the NBA for lessons.

Hehe, seriously. It's OK to hate soccer just because. No need to make silly attempts at rationalizing.

[samit23]

Maybe he watched Jeter pretend he got hit by a pitch, or the flopping in the NBA or NHL...or maybe the constant crying for PI calls in football or faking injury to slow down the no huddle? Either way all sports are the same. Faking injury or foul for advantage is an integral part of every game.

Sent from my iPhone using GatorCountry

[gatordavisl]

Originally Posted by medigatorx

Sorry, to me it looks like punk kid was intentionally laying on the ball for some reason and wouldn't let the player have it (heck, if you google the incident, apparently the kid had bragged on his twitter account before the game that he was going to do just what he did!) The player wanted none of it so toe kicked the ball out from under the kid, picked up the ball, and tried to get back in the game. If the player had really reared back and kicked the kid, I'd feel different. Player got a raw deal getting kicked out.

I agree with this. The kid deserved to get kicked.

[oragator1]

The "kid", who is a fan of the home team tweeted before the game he was going to help his team win. His dad also happens to be worth somewhere north of $500 million, which probably played a part in his getting the gig as well. Yes the Ref probably would have added time for time wasting but there was no guarantee, and the longer he stalled the better organized the opposition could get. It was bush league by the kid and then he flopped on top of it. The player shouldn't have kicked, but the kid had Zero business injecting himself into the game, especially in a premeditated way.
After the game, they apologized to each other and the kid's family

[LimeyGator]

As an Englishman, I feel ashamed what "our game" has become.

Love my local team who are honest, blue collar guys. Can't stand the Premiership and the Purchase Order it has become. Football used to be for everyone - now it's just for the wealthy.

Consider yourselves lucky, my American friends. At least in the NFL, NHL etc there's some parity with a draft system. Over here, he who has the biggest wallet most often wins. The Premier League has all but killed what was great about football in this country 20 years ago...

[gatorjlm]

He should have kicked him harder. F...n wussies.

[LimeyGator]

Originally Posted by LimeyGator

Consider yourselves lucky, my American friends. At least in the NFL, NHL etc there's some parity with a draft system. Over here, he who has the biggest wallet most often wins. The Premier League has all but killed what was great about football in this country 20 years ago...

Quoting myself because non-league Luton Town beat Norwich from the Premiership today in the FA Cup... at Norwich! 4 leagues separate the two teams. I stand well corrected, there IS still some romance left...!

[Tipmoose]

Originally Posted by LimeyGator

Quoting myself because non-league Luton Town beat Norwich from the Premiership today in the FA Cup... at Norwich! 4 leagues separate the two teams. I stand well corrected, there IS still some romance left...!

While I understood the words, the order in which they were placed left me saying to myself...

[buckeyegator]

limey, so i take it you fancy the capital one cup final, swansea vs league 2 side bradford city? as a united fan, i agree to how the richest clubs, especially newly rich like chelsea with abramovic, and man city with their middle east money are making it almost impossible for most teams to win, although some bring it on themselves, are you listening liverpool?

[LimeyGator]

Originally Posted by buckeyegator

limey, so i take it you fancy the capital one cup final, swansea vs league 2 side bradford city? as a united fan, i agree to how the richest clubs, especially newly rich like chelsea with abramovic, and man city with their middle east money are making it almost impossible for most teams to win, although some bring it on themselves, are you listening liverpool?

Yeah - Bradford is in the same league as my team, Gillingham. But instances like these are few and far between.

[leogator]

Hazard acted like an ***hole, pure and simple. Appeal to the ref for delay... This could have resulted in a nasty melee and Hazard's actions would have precipitated it. I don't give a flying fcuk if the ball boy was delaying. Get him suspended, disciplined or kicked out of his duties but you may not kick him. If I was a fellow ball boy in the area I would have rushed Hazard and I don't fight fair...