I initially planned to title this story “Legally Blind,” a playful nod to the 2002 movie “Legally Blonde” starring Reese Witherspoon. However, my attention was diverted when I came across a social media post by a former football player, once a hero goalkeeper in the Coppa Italia, lamenting the empty stands during the female semifinals.
Thus, I felt compelled to incorporate this into my narrative.
bad calls
Let’s start with the elephant in the room. The duty of a referee during a match is to enforce the rules; it’s not the players’ responsibility. Players must compete within the bounds of these rules, though the intensity of competition may tempt them to push those boundaries. Mistakes happen, both by players and referees, but when they occur frequently, it can cost a team the game. Yet, allowing the referee’s decisions to influence one’s gameplay reflects poor sportsmanship. One team last night howerver seemed to struggle across multiple positions on the field.
Perhaps in an effort to enhance inclusivity, the CAN 5, the Italian futsal referee association, has opted to deploy legally blind or severely vision-impaired referee on the field. This could potentially provide a better alternative to simply asserting, “I saw it. It wasn’t a foul.”
While members of the Divisione Calcio a 5 board of directors shouldn’t comment on the game, their impartiality is often compromised. It’s ironic that Divisione Calcio a 5 is the same organization where the host of a team’s scudetto celebration party might be found in the booth commenting on that same team’s game. It’s a farce, yet no one seems to find it amusing.
Fortunately, such occurrences often go unnoticed, particularly when juxtaposed against the ongoing relegation battles in Serie A football. During the futsal game in question, while only a handful of individuals—mostly players and their relatives—were present in the arena, Cagliari was leading Juventus 2-0 on two consecutive penalties. This was a significant moment in Italian football, the nation’s true religion, yet it went largely unnoticed.
empty seats
The game itself was remarkable, with the female players showcasing exceptional skill and commitment, at least for those who bothered to watch. But does it truly happen if no one is there to witness it? This dilemma leads to a philosophical debate akin to “If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?”
You could have the most exceptional product in the world, but if no one is aware of it, does it really matter? To be blunt, if you’re selling a product and no one is buying, perhaps it’s not as amazing as you think, or perhaps the pricing isn’t right.
What’s worse is the lack of discussion the day after such a controversial “non-call.” Controversy is the essence of sport as entertainment—it’s what drives interest. Yet, no one seems to be discussing it, likely because teams pay for favorable articles and wish to avoid upsetting their clients. No one pays for bad press, after all. Futsal has quickly become irrelevant. Today, conversations revolve around Sprint Race in F1 and Allegri’s struggles at Juventus. Without controversy, who would care about female five-a-side indoor soccer?