FIFA and other Soccer Associations have rules that referees must be guided by during soccer games. Soccer referees must therefore be trained on and knowledgeable in approved rules before they are certified to refer soccer games. Soccer referees are game officials authorized to make calls during the game. Soccer commentators are not. They are not journalists. They pretend to be experts. Everyone knows they are not. They are expected to be opinionated. They almost always are. They may not always be objective therefore. Sometimes they have an interest in the outcome of a game. Then again what is fair commentary?
If soccer commentators are anything, they are entertainers who are expected to be comical while catering to their listening/viewing audience, and achieve high ratings. For me, a good soccer commentary should be funny. It should make me laugh from time to time. It should not be taken too seriously.
The good news is that soccer game officials do not hear soccer commentary or listen to them during games. The bias of TV soccer commentators therefore neither influences nor determines the outcome of a soccer game. It did not in the Nigeria-Bosnia game. It can be annoying sometimes though. It should not be forgotten that the audience that a soccer commentator is supposed to cater to, is watching the soccer game that is the subject of the commentary live, and knows what is going on. The TV viewer can always cut sound out. Of course it will be easier and more fun to listen to a soccer commentary if the commentator was not shamefully biased. Much should never be expected of them.
oa
From: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com [mailto:usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com] On Behalf Of Akurang-Parry, Kwabena
Sent: Saturday, June 21, 2014 6:34 PM
To: usaafricadialogue@googlegroups.com
Subject: USA Africa Dialogue Series - NIGERIA + BOSNIA MATCH WHITE COMMENTATORS
Am I the only hearing too much bias against Nigeria in the white commentators' perspectives on the on-going World Cup match between Nigeria and Bosnia-Herzegovina? I think commentators need as much training as referees and lines-people!
Kwabena
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