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Tuesday, July 06, 2010
NHL Rule 26 + World Cup of Soccer
The NHL Rule 26 is called “Awarded Goals”. There are situations where a goal is automatically awarded. It basically boils down to: the shooter had easy access to the net, but the opposing player commits an infraction. Usually it’s a penalty shot, but in these few cases, they simply award a goal.
Posanski brings up the recent Hand of the Devil non-goal because a defender used his hands to stop the ball from crossing the goal line. In the NHL, they would simply apply Rule 26, the goal counts, the game is over. Ah, but in FIFA, that’s not the case. Apparently, the most they can do is award a penalty kick. An obvious loophole. But, one which exists. If there’s one thing the NHL is fantastic about with their rules, it’s closing the loophole. They are pretty fanatic about it, having no qualms changing rules in the middle of the season, even in the playoffs.
Poz asks if taking advantage of loopholes is cheating. He lays out various scenarios, a spectrum if you will, of what could be considered cheating, even to the point that you can argue that there’s no cheating possible, as long as there’s a third party referreeing.
If you remember, we ran a survey a few years back about various ethical scenarios. The worst ethical scenarios all revolved around preventing others or yourself from participating: killing an umpire, throwing the game, keeping Blacks out, intentionally injuring other players. Even things like steroids, while considered unethical, was considered more like a violent sports crime, rather than an unforgiveable one. Obvious things like emery boards and the like, while deemed unethical to some extent, was considered (by you the readers) in the same way that pine tar or changing the field composition was: leverage.
It’s almost as if, if you have a decent chance to be caught and properly punished, it’s not cheating. Intentionally injuring a player is cheating (or at least is highly unethical) because it’s hard to create a punishment to fit the crime.
If an NHL player throws his stick at a player about to shoot in an open net, it’s not cheating. That’s because the ref will automatically award a goal. If an MLBer throws his glove at a ball above his head, it’s not cheating, because it’s an automatic triple. But a soccer player using his hand to stop a ball at the goal-line in the dying seconds of a game? That’s either cheating (a penalty kick is nowhere near enough of a punishment), or a brilliant use of the loophole.
Whatever it is, it’s certainly not sporting. Loopholes for unsportsmanlike conduct need to be closed fast. Ask Sean Avery.
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