Fair Play: Internacional and Nacional

What constitutes “fair play” in sports varies widely among cultures. This is especially noticeable in soccer, since it’s played globally and thus gives examples across a spectrum.

A Reuters Soccer Blog story, “Where ‘fair play’ is a relative term” show this within yesterday’s Copa Libertadores match between Internacional and Nacional.

The dirty tricks and skulduggery which were once an infamous hallmark of the Libertadores Cup have largely been consigned to the past. Yet the purists will be glad to know that South America’s version of the Champions League retains a rough edge long lost to its European counterpart.

Crowds are still packed into standing-room terraces behind the goals, with some fans happily setting off firecrackers in the midst of the throng, and riot police use their shields to protect visiting players from missiles when they take corners.

Perhaps in these circumstances, it is not surprising that the concept of “fair play” has not quite caught on….