On November 18th, France’s national soccer team ties the Irish national team 1-1 on a goal that the player, Thierry Henry, after the game, stated he had directed the ball into the net with his hand. This tie enabled the French team to qualify for next year’s World Cup. A huge tournament, if you're not aware of soccer.
Closer to home, in the all-Ontario high school field hockey championships, a team was awarded a goal that proved to be the winner. The young lady who scored the goal admitted, after the game, that her foot directed the ball into the net. In field hockey, goals cannot be scored if the ball is kicked, or directed by the foot into the net.
In both cases, the referees did not catch the infraction and the ‘goals’ stood.
Some say that the calls even out and to let the referee’s decision stand.
But what if you are the player and you know the ball was directed into the net illegally? Do you have a personal obligation to tell the referee? Do you have an obligation as a team member to not say anything and let the referee decide?
Does your position change if the referee comes up and directly asks you if the goal should count?
Does it matter if it is a team sport or a individual sport?
Does it matter if the sport is being played at the professional level? An organized level (ie high school or league)? Or if it is a pick-up game, where the players referee themselves?
What would you do?
Closer to home, in the all-Ontario high school field hockey championships, a team was awarded a goal that proved to be the winner. The young lady who scored the goal admitted, after the game, that her foot directed the ball into the net. In field hockey, goals cannot be scored if the ball is kicked, or directed by the foot into the net.
In both cases, the referees did not catch the infraction and the ‘goals’ stood.
Some say that the calls even out and to let the referee’s decision stand.
But what if you are the player and you know the ball was directed into the net illegally? Do you have a personal obligation to tell the referee? Do you have an obligation as a team member to not say anything and let the referee decide?
Does your position change if the referee comes up and directly asks you if the goal should count?
Does it matter if it is a team sport or a individual sport?
Does it matter if the sport is being played at the professional level? An organized level (ie high school or league)? Or if it is a pick-up game, where the players referee themselves?
What would you do?
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