The Rational Ref | Cheating and hypocrisy: it's ironic that players' attitudes make soccer so interesting

There are many funny, ironic and hypocritical incidents in soccer, which perhaps explain why the game is so engrossing.

Referees observe these more than most, but anyone watching closely and from a neutral perspective can see them, too. For instance, during last weekend's English Premier League match between Chelsea and Manchester United, it was a pleasant surprise to see the match officials call a foul throw-in against Blues defender Branislav Ivanovic. And there were no complaints from the players.

Ivanovic had one foot on the pitch beyond the touch line. None of the players called it because they did not spot this infringement. Usually, players are screaming blue murder for foul throws based on strange body movements of the thrower even though the action is perfectly valid.

Players need to appreciate that just because something does not look right in their eyes it does not mean there is anything wrong with the throw-in providing it satisfies the five basic requirements. These are where the thrower must face the field of play; have part of each foot on the touch line or outside the pitch; hold the ball with both hands; deliver the ball from behind and over his head; and deliver the ball from the point where it left the pitch.

Whenever players get worked up about a 50-50 throw-in decision not going their way, just pay attention to the outcome of the actual throw-in. Invariably gaining a throw-in does not automatically guarantee possession, which is ironic considering how intensely players complain about not getting a favourable throw-in decision. So perhaps conceding a throw-in is not such a bad strategy for gaining possession of the ball because it has a probability outcome similar to punting the ball upfield in a hopeful manner.

When defenders, like John Terry and Gary Cahill, go upfield for corners, these defenders-turned-attackers will badger the referee to watch for their opponents holding them in the hope of winning a penalty. The irony is that, with the situation reversed, they will themselves be holding attacking players, while keeping silent or claiming innocence of any holding and man-handling offences.

It is also not uncommon for players from losing teams to tell the referee to keep an eye out for time-wasting antics from the opposition and to count for added time. When the same players are instead in a favourable situation (they are either winning or drawing, depending on the nature of the tie), they then have no qualms about using delaying tactics and pressing the same referee to blow for full time.