Are people just biased against Italians?


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Are people just biased against Italians?

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Guest
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Jul 10, 2006, 2:26 PM

Post #1 of 17 (780 views)
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Are people just biased against Italians?	Quote \| Reply

It seems to me like Italy often get criticized for things that are not criticized when other teams do the exact same thing. I'll give some examples:

1. I read a critic say that the way Italy won this 2006 World Cup (a penalty shoot out tie breaker) is no way to win a World Cup....... But all critics seemed to think it was fine the way Brazil won in 1994.

2. Many people harshly criticized when Fabio Grosso dived in the 2006 Semi-Final against Australia to get a penalty shot (which would win the game for Italy). People called it "disgraceful."....... Yet in 2002 when Rivaldo dived for Brazil in the First Round against Turkey to get a penalty (which would win the game for Brazil), it wasn't nearly as criticized.

3. Prior to the 2006 Semi-Final against Germany, the Italian media found video footage of Frings punching an Argentina player, and gave that footage to FIFA suggesting Frings should be banned. Most of the rest of the world did not criticize Frings, but criticized the country of Italy, saying "what are the Italians? Tattle Tales?" ....... Yet during Italy's game against Denmark in the 2004 European Cup, the Denmark media intentionally had cameras on Totti for every single second of the match, looking for something they could use to suggest banning him. They found footage of him spitting on a Denmark player, and gave it to FIFA. Nobody criticized the Denmark media, they all criticized Totti....
(now I agree it was extremely wrong of Totti to spit. But I also think it was wrong of the Denmark media to send camera operators to the game, assigned to stay on Totti every second looking for an excuse to suggest banning him. The criticism for these two situations are rather inconsistent of the media. It's basically saying "If the Denmark media catches an Italian player doing something wrong, criticize the Italian player. If the Italian Media catches a German player doing something wrong, criticize the Italian media.").

Guest
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Jul 10, 2006, 10:58 PM

Post #2 of 17 (757 views)
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Re: [Guest] Are people just biased against Italians? [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

Very good points. Of course no one will agree with you, why? Because its the Italians and many people enjoy dumping on them.

MisterOrange
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Jul 10, 2006, 11:34 PM

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Re: [Guest] Are people just biased against Italians? [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

All the Italian-bashers seems to be missing a very important point. Italy are the world champs! Yes, that's correct, they are the world champs and will be for the next four years. So get over it. You country didn't win? So what! My country didn't even qualify!

Huevos
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Jul 10, 2006, 11:57 PM

Post #4 of 17 (749 views)
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Re: [Guest] Are people just biased against Italians? [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

Sorry to tell you this, but you are actually an idiot who has no clue of soccer/football, but wants to talk along. Open your eyes dude!!! Everyone critised the final between Brasil and Italy in 1994! Nobody has ever reckoned, that the brasilian victory in '94 was good, okay, fun, or anything even close to that. It sucked!
2. You are right. I am one of the few, that till today, goes raving mad, when I even hear the name "Rivaldo". But then again, are you suprised to see the portugies dive all over the place? Well, who is their coach: Felipe (the Diving Instructor) Scolari, who instructed the Brasilian on how to dive 4 years ago
3. I don't know where you live, or if you have ever been to Italy or even met an Italian, but it doesn't seem to be the case!! You seem to be making up your own facts!
So, maybe you see, there are certain things that are facts and even most Italians won't even discuss, that their team doesn't speak good enough englisch to even understand what "fair-play" means! And how would you liked to be insulted as a dirty Arab/Moslem or similar by those faschists.
..Last but not least, there is a major difference between action and reaction, which most people on seem to oversee. Frings reacted, Totti acted, Italians have been acting, diving, crying for years, and now have been feeling other nations reactions... Unsure

Guest
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Jul 11, 2006, 12:18 AM

Post #5 of 17 (747 views)
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Re: [Huevos] Are people just biased against Italians? [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

And a French player clearly dived yesterday in the Final to get a penalty kick that would give France a 1-0 lead!!!!! Why are critics bashing Grosso for diving in the Second Round, but not bashng a French player for diving in the final??????

Guest
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Jul 11, 2006, 12:32 AM

Post #6 of 17 (746 views)
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Re: [Guest] Are people just biased against Italians? [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

1. What you're saying is clearly untrue. When Brazil won in 1994, most critics praised Brazil. Most critics said that that result proved Brazil are the best team ever - clearly above Italy, Germany or Argentina.

2. Right. A Brazilian clearly dived once in 2002 to get a penalty kick which would win the game for them. Portuguese players have dived all the time through out this 2006 World Cup. A French player dived early in this 2006 Final, which gave France a penalty which they took 1-0 lead with....... Yet none of these are harshly criticized by the media. Only when Grosso dived for Italy in the 2006 Second Round is what people harshly critisize.

3. Your Totti and Frings comparison is not accurate. Totti spit on a Denmark player as a reaction to the fact that that player had been continuously tripping Totti throughout the match and the ref wasn't calling it. Frings punched the Argentina player as a reaction to the fact that the Argentina team started a fight after losing on penalty kicks. Both of these were a reaction for something that had been done to them.

Guest
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Jul 11, 2006, 7:41 AM

Post #7 of 17 (731 views)
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Re: [Guest] Are people just biased against Italians? [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

Defending the pathetic and unsportsmanlike actions used to win this World Cup by claiming it as "bias against Italy" is only adding to the shame. Oh, and the other guys do it too defense is pathetic. No matter who did what when, what country they were from, or what it was in response to the following behaviors are an embarrassment to the payer, team, AND country:

1. Diving - many players in may countries practice this
disgrace. Some are worse than others and if you country is bashed for it, chances are it is because of the frequency and blatancy.

2. Spitting, head butting, or any other physical insult or attack outside the parameters of football - anyone from any country who defends these kind of actions on the pitch clearly don't care about the game and consider winning at any cost the most important thing.

3. Racial/ personal slurs - Zidane very clearly deserved a red card for the head butt no matter what was said. What Italians need to consider is that something really terrible must have been said to garner that reaction from anyone. Again, being proud of a player or team who use these tactics to win is bigotry and an embarrassment.

I have absolutely NO reason to be "biased against Italians" or be sorry to see Italy win the this World Cup other than the fact the Italian team was one of the worst offenders of the the three tactics above. If they could have accomplished the win with less rolling around on the pitch in fake agony, racial slurs, and cheap tackles that would be something to be proud of. I wasn't hoping for Italy to lose or France to win. I was hoping for the winner, whoever is was, to do it with some sportsmanship and class. Italians are brilliant, fluid, masterful footballers...too bad it is so tainted by all the other stuff. Then again, many of them are being investigated as cheats in Italy anyway, aren't they?

Guest
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Jul 11, 2006, 2:55 PM

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Re: [Guest] Are people just biased against Italians? [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

In Reply To

Excellent point..... And at least there was physical contact when Grosso dived. There clearly was NO physical contact when that French player dived.

Guest
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Jul 11, 2006, 3:05 PM

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Re: [Guest] Are people just biased against Italians? [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

France used a diving tactic to score on Italy. France knew that was the only way they could hope to score against the tough Italian defense, and they were right! Even when the game went in to over time and the Italians were clearly getting tired (as a result of having just played the Semi-Final against Germany which went into over time), France was still unable to score against Italy.

Diving for a penalty was the only way France could score against Italy.

Guest
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Jul 17, 2006, 9:57 AM

Post #10 of 17 (688 views)
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Re: [Guest] Are people just biased against Italians? [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

http://www.channel4.com/sport/football_italia/jul16g.html
Here's another example: Players insult eachother all the time on the field. Why is Materazzi, an Italian, facing a ban for something players do all the time and don't get banned for?

Guest
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Jul 17, 2006, 10:19 PM

Post #11 of 17 (680 views)
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Re: [Guest] Are people just biased against Italians? [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

In Reply To

It wasnt just some typical insult. It invlved racism which is totally unacceptable in FIFA. So there's no surprise seeing Materazzi getting banned.

Guest
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Jul 18, 2006, 1:37 AM

Post #12 of 17 (677 views)
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Re: [Guest] Are people just biased against Italians? [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

Are you claiming racial insults are never said between soccer players?

And again, Zidane claims Materazzi said something racist, but Materazzi says it's not true. Why automatically believe Zidane and not Materazzi? Shouldn't you need evidence of the crime before banning a player?

Guest
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Jul 18, 2006, 10:13 PM

Post #13 of 17 (667 views)
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Re: [Guest] Are people just biased against Italians? [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

Maybe people just dont like Materazzi because of his arrogance and tattooed body....and probably because he grabbed Zidane's nipples.

Guest
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Jul 21, 2006, 12:26 PM

Post #14 of 17 (655 views)
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Re: [Guest] Are people just biased against Italians? [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

Another example is that when Totti spit on a Denmark player in the 2004 European Cup, nobody asked Totti if he was provoked. They just said: You spit on another player, there's no excuse for that, so you're banned.

Now when Zidane headbutted Materazzi, everyone at FIFA asked Zidane for his reasons, and banned & fined Materazzi.

Guest
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Aug 9, 2006, 9:05 AM

Post #15 of 17 (623 views)
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Re: [Guest] Are people just biased against Italians? [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

In Reply To

1. Diving - many players in may countries practice this
disgrace. Some are worse than others and if you country is bashed for it, chances are it is because of the frequency and blatancy.

2. Spitting, head butting, or any other physical insult or attack outside the parameters of football - anyone from any country who defends these kind of actions on the pitch clearly don't care about the game and consider winning at any cost the most important thing.

3. Racial/ personal slurs - Zidane very clearly deserved a red card for the head butt no matter what was said. What Italians need to consider is that something really terrible must have been said to garner that reaction from anyone. Again, being proud of a player or team who use these tactics to win is bigotry and an embarrassment.

1. There was only one time in this tournament Italy was accused of diving, but the replays prove it was not a dive. Lucas Neill used his left hand to trip Grosso by the left ankle. Therefore it was a deserved penalty kick. Look at the replay in slow motion and see for yourself
http://youtube.com/watch?v=k2PgG8j0gyQ&mode=related&search

2. DeRossi committed a terrible foul in the first round against McBride of the USA. That's true. But there were far worse in the tournament. Zidane's headbutt in the Final and Argentina's starting a brawl after a Quarter-Final elimination are just two examples. To say Italy was "the worst offender of this tactic" is clearly not true.

3. Zidane has even admitted there was no racism in what Materazzi said to him......... Let me remind you, when Totti was banned for spitting on a Denmark player in the 2004 European Cup, nobody from FIFA or any critics asked or seemed to care if he was provoked. They just said "you spit on a player, there's no excuse for that." Why should Zidane be treated differently?

Guest
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Oct 23, 2006, 5:22 AM

Post #16 of 17 (467 views)
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Re: [Guest] Are people just biased against Italians? [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

In Reply To

It wasnt just some typical insult. It invlved racism which is totally unacceptable in FIFA. So there's no surprise seeing Materazzi getting banned.

WRONG. Zidane even admitted there was absolutely no racism in what Materazzi said to him. The idea that there was anything racist was entirely made up by people biased against Italians, who would like to think Zidane's actions were more justified than they were.

Guest
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Feb 11, 2007, 6:30 PM

Post #17 of 17 (71 views)
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Re: [Guest] Are people just biased against Italians? [In reply to]	Quote \| Reply

In Reply To

3. Racial/ personal slurs - Zidane very clearly deserved a red card for the head butt no matter what was said. What Italians need to consider is that something really terrible must have been said to garner that reaction from anyone. Again, being proud of a player or team who use these tactics to win is bigotry and an embarrassment.
?

You�re being biased to see it that way. If it was the other way around (with Materazzi headbutting Zidane), you would not be thinking about whether or not Materazzi was provoked - you would just say Materazzi did something disgraceful that there can be absolutely no excuse for.

By the way, Zidane himself stressed that there was no racism in what Materazzi said to him.

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