It is fair to say that 34 degrees at 4:30pm on a Saturday evening in Perth is not ideal weather for an intense football match.
Consequently we saw one of the most dull , uneventful, and uninspiring A-League contests of the year last weekend at NiB stadium. Plain and simple, it was boring. Those who could find beauty in the contest, the world’s greatest optimists and a football purists, maybe, but even that would be a stretch. However, it is much easier to harbor feelings of respect, respect for the players and the way in which they were able to produce constant effort in the face of immense fatigue and exhaustion.The toll the game took on the body became evident in the late stages, as veteran Diego Castro appeared to succumb to what can only be described as severe cramp, his wincing and struggle to get-off the ground post-game making this clear.
The problem with a game like this is the chain reaction that results. The broadcaster’s viewership dips, the players are left exhausted, the coaches frustrated and the fans are few and far between, while those that do turn up leave overly disappointed and sunburned. It is good for virtually no one. Some pundits were critical of the officials, holding to the belief that they should have delayed proceedings if they held the power to do so, while some have questioned whether day games should be held in Perth in the first place considering it is renowned for its overly steamy conditions in the summer months. What about Brisbane though? It is not really a location foreign to high heat either, and Suncorp Stadium has been known to have been temporarily transformed into a furnace at times.
There is a couple of options here, and maybe the solution is more logical than we think. Option one – ensure the officials are aware they have the power to delay contests depending on environmental factors, and encourage them to do so if they believe necessary. This approach appears mostly common sensical, but it still seems destined to fail to please two parties. This will undoubtedly create unwanted problems for the broadcaster, while fans and viewers alike are bound to express their frustration and impatience at such a delay. This option solely pleases the players and their wishes in isolation.
Option two – schedule all games at NIB Stadium (therefore most likely Suncorp as well) at night to avoid excessive heat. Alright, one must admit this seems on the verge of ludicrous, it would result in a lack of variety and wreak havoc on the scheduling process, a new era of night-dominated football would reign supreme.
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Option three is coincidentally the most logical, grit your teeth and bear it. All parties involved have managed this long, why all of a sudden is it a gigantic problem? It is unrealistic to think we can control environmental factors, let alone predict at times. Like life, you take the good with the bad.
The beauty of football, the beauty of sport, is that as we enter the arena their is a certain level of unpredictability surrounding what is about to transpire. It is one of the main attractions. The game that you expected to be a blockbuster is a fizzer, the game you thought would be a bore provides the most entertainment for the round, the team you predicted to capitulate rises victorious, and the team you expected to hand out a flogging is on the receiving end. You are not guaranteed a great spectacle when you attend a football match, but there is too much excitement when watching the game live to say no.
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