It 's been said on this board in several topics that the English Premiership is superior to other leagues in terms of fair play. While games in Latin countries are marred by diving incidents, players faking injuries, and occasional brutal play, the Premiership is played in a hard but fair fashion. No longer true!! The last few days have really exposed that a bunch of really stupid and vicious players earn their (ridiciluously high) wages in the Premiership. I am thinking of Gascoigne (he deserved breaking his arm for brutally elbowing Boateng tonight), Dennis Wise (the most vicious players in the world, he should be banned for his repeated antics), Lee Bowyer (what a butcher, did you see the horrible sliding tackle vs. Spurs), Robbie Savage (the Leicester midfielder is mainly selected for his ability to be brutal to the opposition), Roy Keane (when he loses his temper he is downright dangerous), Ian Harte (his stepping on Chris Perry was ugly indeed), David Batty (expert on over-the-top tackles), Vinnie Jones (the old bone breaker no. 1), Stuart Pearce (the old bone-breaker no. 2), and the list goes on.
And guess what: they are all British! These british butchers are for me ruining the enjoyment of Premiership matches, and they should be punished for it. So please, no more claims that the English league has players of a 'higher moral standard' than Latin League, that is no longer true!

Every team needs somebody to play rough. The team I play on is mostly Mexican guys. They are a lot smaller than most of the other people in the league. If they were by themselves they would get pushed around all the time but with me on the team whoever pushes or tackles them hard has to expect it back from me.

It's a necessary evil.

Playing hard doesnt win any matches, thats just for players that have no skills, no wonder England doesnt have decent national team. And english fair-play is just another myth, they play dirt just like the rest of the world.

Its sad to see the way football is being played these days, its more about stoping goals at all costs then scoring.

English players are too much influenced by that brainless game of rugby. Italy's rugby team may suck, but their national soccer team could hammer the English team any day.

I've seen a lot of football in many different leagues and have to agree the game as it's played in England is perhaps the most vicious as far as hard physical tackles. And the referees for the most part let them get away with it. I think if Keane or Wise played the same style in Italy like they do now, they would be getting red cards every game.

Football is getting rougher and rougher, FIFA has to do something about it soon.
Players are getting too many yellow cards, and red cards, and the tackles are awful.

'It's a necessary evil'.

I totally disagree if you are talking about the rough and vicious kind of play that I described in my post. Many players show that it is possible to play hard but fair, and this this should be the way to go for strong players in teams with low overall physical strength.

And I agree with those who advocate giving more poer to referees to stamp down on vicious players. Just let me near Dennis Wise with some cards in my pocket....

Sorry daniel, but if English soccer was influenced by "brainless" rugby, then maybee
the players would learn to punch like real men, none of the puffter **** I saw in the Leeds(i think it was) game.