THE sports world is still reeling from the Houston Astros sign-stealing scandal when English football club Manchester City was hit with a two-year ban on European play as well as a hefty fine by UEFA.
While sports controversies—especially cheating incidents—aren’t new and we certainly do not think that it is the norm, it is still shocking. The audacity to even try it when there is the likelihood they will get caught beggars the imagination.
Major League Baseball (MLB) has seen so many controversies through the past century and it has always survived these hits to its reputation.
I am surprised though that MLB did not even bother to take away the World Series trophies from the teams. Are they worried about the Players’ Union? Why should they? If the union protects its players and the cheaters, they will not hear the end of it from the fans who already think they are overpaid rich folks who whine a lot.
I really think that Houston got away with their cheating. Every single player and coach (and official) on that team was party to the cheating. Including whistle-blower Mike Fiers who himself said he doesn’t mind returning the championship ring if MLB asks him to do so.
By vacating the title, it sends a clear message about zero tolerance about the cheating.
How about the doping scandals? The steroid users? MLB is just as culpable because they knew about it but ignored it. The rode that card because crowds were coming out to watch the Great Home Run chase.
Some even say by taking back the World Series trophy, one will open a can of worms. Then so be it. Unless you want to look the other way and sweep everything under the rug?
As for Manchester City, detractors always say that they bought their way into a championship. Does it help that they are able to get very good footballers? Yes, but you still need them to play sweet music together. The fact that they have not won it year after year means it is difficult.
Does it constitute an advantage to get away with a lack of financial fair play? No doubt about it.
The funny thing about this is the club has not really owned up to the whistle-blower, Rui Pinto’s revelations about the club’s cheating. Instead, they argue that he obtained the paperwork illegally.
And Pinto spilled a lot from Cristiano Ronaldo’s tax evasion to Fifa President Gianni Infantino’s collusion with Paris St. Germain’s own breach of financial fair play among others.
And the whistle-blower is in jail with his life in peril.
I have long disliked the corruption in football. At the time of our exposing the then corruption in the Philippine Football Federation and a former president a decade ago, I have been banned from covering the game, from access to the national team, or even from the federation’s premises. That isn’t the case any longer, but it’s really hard fighting against an entrenched group with all the money to spare.
Unfortunately, it does leave a sour taste in our mouth—and I am sure for others—because it greatly spoils the game. The end result of the Astros or even the old Philippine Football Federation left much to be desired. I am sure that now that Manchester City has gone to the Court for Arbitration for Sport, it is possible they can get a reduced sentence or maybe none at all (PSG is still laughing all the way to the bank) .
We can only hope that people will do the right thing. Unfortunately, when it involves large sums of money, it isn’t that easy because of vested interests.