A case study in soccer ethics

VCase 1
Soccer ethics are the unspoken rules and norms
Soccer is a world sport so ethical lines cross boarders, regional
differences in right and wrong
Video shows Maradona clearly used his hand to score a goal, which is
illegal in soccer
Goal was counted as good, the win stood, and no ramifications were
taken
Case 2
Uruguayan player, Luis Suarez bit Italian player, Giorgio Chiellini
Suarez was suspended for 4 months and paid a fine
Conclusion
Rules and ethics of soccer are separate
Regional differences, ethnic differences, personal differences, etc that
add to difficulty of defining the ethical line
Ethics dictate our actions more than the law
A Can the referee retract his ruling on the field?
o The decisions of the referee regarding facts connected with play,
including whether or not a goal is scored and the result of the
match, are nal.
o The referee may only change a decision on realising that it is
incorrect or, at his discretion, on the advice of an assistant
referee or the fourth offcial, provided that he has not restarted
play or terminated the match.
What defines a goal?
o A goal is scored when the whole of the ball passes over the goal
line, between the goalposts and under the crossbar, provided
that no infringement of the Laws of the Game has been
committed previously by the team scoring the goal.
What are rules of soccer?
o A player is cautioned and shown the yellow card if he commits
any of the following seven offences:
unsporting behaviour
dissent by word or action
persistent infringement of the Laws of the Game
delaying the restart of play
failure to respect the required distance when play is
restarted with a corner
kick, free kick or throw-in
entering or re-entering the eld of play without the referees
permission

deliberately leaving the eld of play without the referees

permission
o A player, substitute or substituted player is sent off if he commits
any of the following seven offences:
serious foul play
violent conduct
spitting at an opponent or any other person
denying the opposing team a goal or an obvious
goalscoring opportunity
by deliberately handling the ball (this does not apply to a
goalkeeper within his own penalty area)
denying an obvious goal scoring opportunity to an
opponent moving
towards the players goal by an offence punishable by a
free kick or a penalty kick
using offensive, insulting or abusive language and/or
gestures
receiving a second caution in the same match
Code of conduct for FIFA
FIFA code of ethics article 2 section 3 part 9

L-

Maradona
o K/G stage 1, 2, 3, 4
1: If an athlete doesnt score they could get cut from team
or benched
2: Typically, professional athletes get paid based on
performance
3: Want approval from fans and coaches
4: If they dont play well fans, teammates and coaches
could shun him
o More restrictive contractarianism- vale of ignorance with denying
he used his hand even though there is video evidence
o Principle of double effect: Win the game, but criticized by other
players and fans
o Substantive justice-ignored rules for betterment of team
o Procedural justice
o Act and rule utilitarianism
Luis Suarez
o K/G stage 2: potentially rewarded by fans and coaches etc for
hurting opponent
Referees
o Rule Utilitarianism- using instances in past games to referee
current games
o Kohlberg stage 5- doing his job by refereeing contest

E-

o Less Restrictive contractarianism- doing what he signed up to do

o Principle of Utility- Following the rules and calling penalties, goals
etc to benefit the team that is playing legally
FIFA
o Integrity
o Kohlberg stage 5- acting contractually moral
o LRC- they are doing what they are supposed to do
o Non-Malevolence
o Intentions and motives
o Gilligan 5- maintain the appereance of league and relationship of
FIFA to the public and fans etc
o Rule utilitarianism- in the past suarez has been violent take that
into account when making new rules and punishments
o Respect
o Distributive justice
o Benevolence
Author
o Principle of integrity
o Procedural justice
o MRC
o Commutative justice
o Act utilitarianism
Maradona more restrictive contractarianism vs Referees Principle of
utility, Kohlberg stage 5, LRC, Rule Utilitarianism
Luis Suarez K/G stage 2 vs Referees Principle of utility, Kohlberg stage
5, LRC, Rule Utilitarianism
FIFA rule utilitarianism vs soccer players MRC
Procedural justice vs Kohlberg stage 4.5
Less restrictive contractarianism vs principle of utility

FIFA should make specific rules for each case they have seen and have
a universal committee to determine what is ethical when ethical issues
arise

Rule Utilitarianism- able to use past instances to create better laws

K/G stage 5- FIFA will be doing there job by making soccer more
improved
Less Restrictive contractarianism- doing what they are supposed to do
Principle of Commutative justice- rules what be fair no matter what
side your on

S-

C-

More restrictive contractarianism

no one does anything

ESo LRC- they are doing what they are supposed to do

o Gilligan 5- maintain the appereance of league and relationship of
FIFA to the public and fans etc
o Rule utilitarianism- in the past suarez has been violent take that
into account when making new rules and punishments
o Kohlberg stage 5
c

Non-malevolence
Player intentions
Respect- if biting continues then thats not respectful
Integrity- biting violates integrity

ES-

Author writes a letter to ethics committee

Promoting stage 6 kohlberg

Integrity
benevolence

Rule utilitarianism- people right letters in all the time and nothing
happens

C-

Post Case notes

Separatism vs ordinaries (do sports have norms separate from normal
life)