As with most football-related topics, there are differing views on the pros and cons of UEFA's decision to impose a two-match ban on Arsenal striker Eduardo for his dive against Celtic.
Most impartial observers are glad that long-overdue retrospective action has finally been taken. Yet, cynics amongst them have quite rightly questioned whether this is just a one-off gesture.
On the other hand, it's not impossible to empathise with Arsene Wenger's anger at the decision. Already, he has - quite rightly! - questioned why other not dissimilar acts that go against the spirit of the game have since gone unpunished.
I found that a moment's reflection on the matter turned into a somewhat longer period of befuddlement. What could have precipitated this bureaucratic bolt from the blue? Did some faceless administrator at UEFA decide to act on little more than a whim? Did anyone in the corridors of power think through the consequences? Isn't this, after all, the same organisation whose president, Michel Platini, has, on several occasions, championed the capability of referees and their assistants ahead of technological aids? Wasn't it only a few days ago that he was talking about having two additional assistants to keep a close 'manual' eye on penalty area incidents at either end? Furthermore, hasn't FIFA supremo Sepp Blatter spoken regularly against the use of video technology, advocating instead that the referee's 'manual' eyesight is more than adequate?
Where do we go from here?
To my mind, there's only one course of action open to UEFA and FIFA. They have to sanction the use of retrospective action against divers and, well, for want of a better better word, cheaters in general.
The Eduardo incident has to become a valid precedent.
Otherwise, most - nay, all - impartial observers might switch back to supporting Arsenal's gripe against the bumbling bureaucrats and the Eduardo case will be seen as yet another another sorry episode in the long line of gaffes that UEFA and FIFA are so good at.
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