It is 1:57 am and Asamoah Gyan has just scored the second goal for Ghana in the extra time against USA's one.
It has been a thrilling match till now with loads of action and excitement. Players from both the countries have left no opportunity to kick the ball and each other as hard as possible.
As a result there have been free kicks, corners and flashing of yellow cards galore. In fact the USA's lone goal was a result of a penalty kick. Severe jabs and kicks have ensured that every few minutes one or the other player sniffs the green grass on the field.
So, in such a high adrenaline match I am forced to think that how come the players are not coming to blows with each other?
When you are playing for your country that too in a World Cup that too in a quarter final qualifying match, the emotions are bound to run high, which is, by the way absolutely justified.
When you have covered half the ground by your self, dodged five or six opponents successfully and are about to score a goal for your country, suddenly out one of the opponents deliberately jabs you in the face and breaks your groove, you fall and bite the dust. A potential goal is missed because of the unnecessary intervention by the opponent.
That is absolutely disappointing and FRUSTRATING. So, what should you do? Abuse him with a string of expletives? or Box his ears and get disqualified?
Simple, there is no need to do anything because there is a gentleman who sees everything- THE REFEREE. He is the pacifier who immediately comes to the rescue of the 'victim'.
He punishes the 'culprit' with a yellow/red card and compensates the 'victim' with a penalty kick. This is called "Instant Justice" which we definitely need in our country. A perfect blend of punishment and compensation indeed.
Now I understand why Football is so popular. Why it is called a beautiful game. Why from a poor worker in a diamond mine in Africa to a CEO in France are equally crazy about the game. Justice, you see is loved by all. We demand justice but seldom get it.
The mine worker wants justice because his whole family is being forced to work as bonded labourers in inhumane conditions. Similarly, the CEO wants justice because his idea of launching a new product has been stolen.
So, the immediate verdict against cheating and wrongdoing pacifies all. But sadly, it is a game and far away from reality. Because the reality is that even after killing more than 15,000 people Warren Anderson would have been watching this 'beautiful game' with a beer can in his hand cheering his country.
Sadly, there is no referee in real life who would flash a red card to such criminals. Especially in a country like India where there is no concept of Football, leave aside a football referee.
Come to think of it, maybe, this is the very reason that we do not play football. We are so used to delayed verdicts that maybe an immediate one would scare us. That is why we have the patience to wait for 10 or 15 or 20 years for a verdict to come which still would not guarantee justice. We are comfortable with the lazy judiciary of the country.
But if India plays football then FIFA will have to make some changes like the referee should flash the yellow/red card after the match, preferably 2-3 months later. Instead of the compensation, penalty kick, free kick etc. our players should be given assurance that they would get a penalty kick. But that is it, no need to provide one as they are not used to the "Instant Justice" remember? Just ask them to go home and wait for a few years. They will oblige happily.
Our judges should take a break and let the referees take care of things. After all the red card should be shown NOT only to those who are corrupt but also to those who are inefficient read our judiciary.
P.S. Ghana has just won 2-1 and will play Uruguay in the Quarter Finals :)
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