We almost saw it coming in the USA Italy game but that game is now remembered as how a match is fought in old style. It was all about the courage of 19 players who left the pitch that evening.

In contrast to that the Portugal Netherlands match was acerbic from the beginning and it just needed a moment to explode. The first moment came when the Dutch right back made a career threatening tackle on Christiano Ronaldo. He was successful to a degree as that put Ronaldo out of the match.

The next heated moment came when Figo exaggerated the elbow hit to get the Dutch player suspended. It neutralize the Dutch numerical advantage and instigated bad blood among players who were already on the tipping point. From there on the situation just got out of control and no amount of cards able to restore the spirit of the game, which FIFA so proudly wants to protect.

What went wrong and why we had three red cards in one match twice in this world cup

It all started with FIFA directives to referees on clamping down diving and cheating from the game. The easy solution suggested by Sepp Blatter, head of FIFA is by showing players cards for diving, cheating, play acting or simulation.

Referees so easily are following the orders from the top resulting in a situation where we can visualize a world cup final between two reserve sides.

Cards are shown for the smallest of the tackles and it is proving even more fruitful for cheaters as they now can get an opponent out of the pitch with favorable decision. The players who stand to tackles are at disadvantage in the whole scenario. So the rules are even more helping the divers and eluding us the beautiful art of tackling in football.

I dont foresee football to be as tough as America Football but it has to maintain its character, today gamesmanship or play acting is part of game like never before.

Sepp Blatter and FIFA dictums are harming the game, now defender fears to tackle as they believe a wrong tackle will automatically result in a card. Tackling and winning ball is an art and it can be done without maliciously harming an opponent but with present dictums it seems that tackling will be a thing of past in football.

With players getting more and more adept at play acting it became very difficult for referee even with two assistants to make all the right decisions. FIFA has to come out to tackle this growing problem in the game. In next article we will discuss how we can tackle it.