Soccer

Football is a game loved and supported around the world but it does itself no favours with some of the activities associated with it and all in the name of winning.

My Top 4 Hates:

1. Bad Losers

Successful teams have a winning mentality instilled into them by the manager and coaches but they need to learn to become gracious losers on the rare occasion that a result goes against them. So often when the team loses, it's the fault of the referee, they were unlucky and didn't deserve to lose - there must be someone to blame, unable to accept defeat. Arsene Wenger, Sir Alex Ferguson and Rafa Benitez are all past masters at this art of self promotion and deception.

2. Time Wasting

When teams set out to waste time from the very start of a match, slowing it down at every set-piece and stoppage, they are depriving spectators of the game for which they paid. Taking the ball to the corner flag in the final moments of a game only enrages their opponents and is liable to lead to serious injury or an incident as tempers boil over.

3. Diving and Conning the Referee

Players who cheat should be exposed for their claims for penalties and and free-kicks that were not merited. Retrospective decisions should be taken by the authorities where referees have not been aware of the cheating.

4. Weakened Teams

Managers should be required to select their strongsest available team regardless of any future fixture. Manchester United and liverpool regularly field under-strength sides ahead of Champions League games. This demeans the competition, their opponents and the paying public. Manchester United lost at Chelsea in a crucial Premier League game as Christiano Ronaldo started as a substitute.

Football must improve.