What is Fair Play?
According to the International Fair Play Committee, Fair Play is a complex concept that comprises and embodies a number of fundamental values that are not only integral to the sport but relevant in everyday life.
Fair competition, respect, friendship, team spirit, equality, sport without doping, respect for written and unwritten rules such as integrity, solidarity, tolerance, care, excellence, and joy, are the building blocks of fair play that can be experienced and learnt both on and off the field.
In this article, TOP SOCCER BLOG brings you the FIFA FAIR PLAY CODE.
Officially, FIFA Fair Play Code for football covers all the sporting, moral and ethical principles for which FIFA has always been known/stood for, and for which it will continue to fight in the future, regardless of the influences and pressures it might be faced with. The ten golden rules not only serve as a doctrine for FIFA as world football’s governing body, but they also reinforce the sense of fraternity and cooperation among the members of the worldwide football family. The rules are as follows:
1. Play Fair
Winning is without value if victory has been achieved unfairly or dishonestly. Cheating is easy but brings no pleasure. Playing fair requires courage and character. It is also more satisfying. Fair play always has its reward, even when the game is lost. Playing fair earns respect, while cheating only brings shame. Remember, it is only a game. And games are pointless unless played fairly.
2. Play to win but accept defeat with dignity
Winning is the object of playing any game. Never set out to lose. If you do not play to win, you are cheating your opponents, deceiving those who are watching, and also fooling yourself. Never give up against stronger opponents but never relent against weaker ones. It is an insult to any opponent for you to play at less than full strength. Play to win until the final whistle. But remember nobody wins all the time. You win some, and you lose some. Learn to lose graciously. Do not seek excuses for defeat. (genuine reasons will always be self-evident) Congratulate the winners with good grace. Do not blame the referee or anyone else. Be determined to do better next time. Good losers earn more respect than bad winners.
3. Observe the Laws of the Game
All games need rules to guide them. Without rules, there would be chaos. The rules of football are simple and easy to learn. Make sure you learn them; it will help you to understand the game better. Understanding the game better will make you a better player. It is equally important to understand the spirit of the rules because they are designed to make the game fun to play and fun to watch. By sticking to the rules, the game will be much more enjoyable.
4. Respect opponents, team-mates, referees, officials, and spectators
Fair Play means respect. Respect is part of the game. Without opponents, there can be no game. Everyone has the same rights, including the right to be respected. Team-mates are colleagues. Form a team in which all members are equal. Referees are there to maintain discipline and Fair Play. Always accept their decisions without arguing, and help them to enable all participants to have a more enjoyable game. Officials are also part of the game and must be respected accordingly. Spectators give the game atmosphere. They want to see the game played fairly, but must also behave fairly and with respect themselves.
5. Promote the interests of football
Football is the world’s greatest game. But it always needs everybody’s help to maintain its greatness. Think of football’s interests before your own. Think how your actions may affect the image of the game. Talk about the positive things in the game. Encourage other people to watch and play fairly. Help others to have as much fun from football as you do. In short, be an ambassador for the game.
6. Honour those who defend football’s good reputation
The good name of football has survived because the vast majority of people who love the game are honest and fair. Sometimes somebody does something exceptional that deserves our special recognition. They should be honoured and their fine example publicised. This encourages others to act in the same way. Help to promote football’s image by publicising its good deeds.
7. Reject corruption, drugs, racism, violence, gambling, and other dangers to the sport
Football’s huge popularity sometimes makes it vulnerable to negative outside interests. Watch out for attempts to tempt you into cheating or using drugs. Drugs have no place in football, likewise in any other sport or in the society as a whole. Say no to drugs. Help to kick racism and bigotry out of football. Treat all players (and everyone else) equally, regardless of their religion, race, sex, or nationality. Show zero tolerance for gambling on games in which you participate in because it negatively affects your ability to perform and creates conflicts of interest. Show that football does not want violence, even from your own fans, because football is a sport and a sport of peace.
8. Help others to resist corruption pressures
You may hear that your teammates or other people you know are being tempted to cheat in some way or otherwise engage in a behaviour deemed unacceptable. They need your help. Do not hesitate to stand by them. Give them the strength to resist. Also, remind them of their commitment to their teammates and to the game itself. Form a block of solidarity, like a solid defence on the field of play.
9. Denounce those who attempt to discredit football
Do not be ashamed to stand up to anybody who you are sure is trying to make others cheat or engage in other unacceptable behaviour. It is better to expose them and have them removed before they can do any damage. It is equally dishonest to go along with a dishonest act. Do not just say no, denounce those misguided persons who are trying to spoil the sport before they can persuade somebody else to say yes.
10. Use football to make a better world
Football has an incredible power, which can be used to make this world a better place in which everyone can live. Use this powerful platform to promote peace, equality, health, and education for everyone. Make the game better by taking it to the world, and you will be fostering a better world.
FIFA FAIR PLAY AWARDS
The FIFA Fair Play Award is a FIFA recognition of exemplary behaviour (by football players, teams, fans, spectators, football associations/federations, and even entire footballing communities) that promotes the spirit of fair play and compassion in football around the world. It was first handed out in 1987.
Past winners of the FIFA FAIR PLAY AWARD are:
Fans of
Dundee United (1987), Frank Ordenewitz & Spectators of the 1988 Seoul Olympic football tournament (1988), Spectators of
Trinidad and Tobago (1989), Gary Lineker (1990), The Royal Spanish Football Federation and Jorginho (1991), The Belgian Football Association and Nándor Hidegkuti (1992), The football association of Zambia (1993), It was not awarded in 1994, Jacques Glassmann (1995), George Weah (1996), Irish supporters, Jozef Zovinec and Julie Foudy (1997), The United States Soccer Federation, Football Federation Islamic Republic of Iran and The Irish Football Federation of Northern Ireland (1998), New Zealand football community (1999), Lucas Radebe (2000), Paulo Di Canio (2001), the football communities of Japan and Korea Republic (2002), fans of Celtic F.C (2003), Brazilian Football Confederation (2004), Community of
Iquitos, Peru (2005), fans of 2006 World Cup (2006), Barcelona (2007), The Turkish Football Federation and The Football Federation of Armenia (2008), Bobby Robson (2009), Haiti women’s national under-17 football team (2010), Japan Football Association (2011), Uzbekistan Football Federation (2012), Afghanistan Football Federation (2013), Brazil, Canada, Costa Rica and Morocco (2014), All football organisations supporting
refugees (2015), Atlético Nacional (2016), Francis Kone (2017), Lennart Thy (2018) Marcelo Bielsa, and Leeds United (2019).
NB: One or more awards are presented annually
Written by Muftaudeen Abdullahi Ishola
