Euro 2020, the biggest national football competition in Europe, is heading towards the end of the tournament, with only the semi-finals and final left. Countless people around the world were shocked, as the teams with the most star players like France, Germany, Belgium, Portugal, and the Netherlands were eliminated earlier in the tournament. The loss of France and the Netherlands was even more unexpected, as they went against teams that no one considered as contenders.The unfair rule of football critically affected the outcome of the Netherlands-Czech Republic game.

For approximately 51 minutes, De Ligt, the defender for the Netherlands, was ejected for a handball foul. That was the turning point of the game. Without their key defender, the Netherlands conceded two goals and lost the game. I want to ask a question here. Is it fair to not allow a substitution for the ejected player? Playing 10 vs 11 is a huge disadvantage to the team. I believe that the player not being able to play for the rest of the game is adequate punishment for both the player and the team. However, rejecting a substitute seems unfair.

https://www.sportbible.com/football/foul-play-news-matthijs-de-ligt-sent-off-for-handball-in-netherlands-vs-czech-20210627

The team that loses the player would not function properly, which tips the game heavily in favor of the opposite team. Proportionate punishment is perfectly acceptable, but excessive punishment undermines the principle of fair competition, which is very important in any sport. My suggestion is that substitutions should be allowed for the Also, there must be a clear standard for the referees’ judgment. This not only applies to football, but it has also been an issue for basketball. Referees play an extremely important role in a sports game. They have the job to keep the game under control and make sure the game is fair. However, if referees are giving calls based on vague standards, some teams are bound to be disadvantaged.

Further discussion regarding fairness is necessary among sports organizations. Specific and strict rules are necessary for a better referee guideline on how to act in certain situations. In addition, there should be actions taken for referees not doing their jobs right. That way, fans will be able to enjoy sports games better.

유승현 강남포스트 학생기자  webmaster@ignnews.kr

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