First-round frenzy: Who gives a spit'
By Murray Greig (China Daily)
Updated: 2004-06-23 06:47

I don't get it.

Tomorrow marks the start of the second round of soccer's European Cup. In the much-ballyhooed opening round, host Portugal pulled off a historic upset by beating Spain, the feisty Greeks advanced for the first time in a major international tournament, and the scoring prowess of 18-year-old Wayne Rooney has all of England hailing him as the next Pele.

Still, the biggest story from round one at Euro 2004 was about ... spitting.

Make that two stories.

The first saw Italy's star striker, Francesco Totti, suspended for three games for spitting on Denmark's Christian Poulsen during a goalless draw on the tournament's second day. Danish TV caught the dirty deed in living colour and reportedly interrupted a national newscast to air the footage.

To his credit, Totti didn't deny it - choosing instead to plead temporary amnesia. But his theatrical contrition in begging forgiveness from his adoring fans seemed a bit much.

"I am very distressed about what happened, and I ask the public to forgive me," lamented the player who was banished from the 2002 World Cup for diving like a schoolgirl in Italy's second round loss to the Republic of Korea.

"I don't remember the incident seen in the TV coverage, and I would like you to know this was not the true Francesco Totti, it was another."

Fair enough. Apparently some sort of alien entity took over his body for a couple of minutes and forced him to spit at an opposing player. All is forgiven, Frankie.

The second incident was even more bizarre. Following England's 3-0 victory over Switzerland, the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA) announced it had charged Swiss striker Alexander Frei with spitting on England midfielder Steven Gerrard.

Wide-angle German television images showed Frei bumping Gerrard in the 77th minute, then turning and making a spitting motion as he walked away. But after reviewing the video, UEFA concluded there was "insufficient evidence" for a suspension, and the charge was dropped.

"I am greatly relieved," Frei told a packed media conference. "I didn't spit. I never do this. I am an emotional player, and I'm no angel, but this is just not in my character."

But two hours after UEFA announced the verdict, close-up footage captured by Switzerland's SF DRS network clearly showed Frei unloading a gooey gob to the back of Gerrard's neck. The English player wiped it off and turned to glare at Frei, who had already scampered away.

When the new video was brought forward, UEFA did an abrupt about-face and handed Frei a "provisional" 15-day suspension. Since Switzerland was eliminated by France on Monday, the point is moot. A UEFA official said the organization would still seek a 5-game ban for Frei "because, among other things, in the first instance a completely true version of the events was not presented by the Swiss side."

What does all this tell us?

Apparently soccer's woosie rules against physical contact and the hilarious histrionics that go into faking injuries aren't sufficient enough to denigrate the "beautiful game." Now we have players using spittle as a tactical tool. What's next, boys? Hair-pulling? Slapping?

I can think of no other sport in which one player can spit in the face of an opponent and get away with it. Oh sure, Totti was handed a suspension and Frei earned a "stern glare" and belated banishment, but where's the on-field retribution?

In the National Hockey League or National Football League, any player who would stoop to spitting on a foe would summarily be served a heaping helping of frontier justice - likely ending with the spitter requiring stitches or bone splints.

Amazingly, one English newspaper columnist applauded Gerrard's tolerance in "turning the other cheek" after being the recipient of Frei's spit, and opined that "it was a splendid example of English stoicism."

Stoicism? I'd call it something else.

How many players would continue spitting on their opponents if once, just once, a recipient retaliated with a stylish elbow to the forehead, or a good old fashioned punch in the mouth?

Like I said, I just don't get it.

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