Showboating

Please watch the following video, it is a player who goes by the name of Awana Diab playing for United Arab Emirates against Lebanon. He takes this penalty while his team is cruising at 6-2 up in the 78th minute:

If I was to tell you that Awana Diab is in a bit of hot water over how he took his penalty, what would you think? Personally, I don't think think there is enough of this sort of thing in football and am pretty disgusted at the outcry over it. There's widespread condemning of the 'incident' (I use the word loosely) over how much disrespect Awana Diab has shown to his opponents Lebanon. His coach, Srecko Katanec, who had brought him on 3 minutes before the penalty was taken, immediately substituted him afterwards.

"This penalty, I didn't like it. We must respect players from other teams. In future you don't know what football will give you back," Katanec said after the game.

"He's a young guy and he knew he made a mistake immediately. I just want him to show respect, not just on the field but off it as well."

Strong words from the coach of UAE. How exactly is Awana showing disrespect? What other opportunity do players have within the game to showcase the side of their game that is a spectacle. If you can't do it at 6-2 up, when can you do it? I think everything we are currently trying to encourage in our young players is epitomised in this penalty. He was composed under pressure, showed amazing technique and most importantly, scored a goal in the process. Aren't we trying to encourage our kids all of the above? Rather than lumping it out of play, try a neat pass or trick? Aren't we looking to take away the pressure they are under and encourage skill and finesse over power and strength?

It gets worse, a Lebanese team official saw red after a furious reaction to the penalty. If you can't stand back and applaud when someone has shown a flash of brilliance at the highest level of the game, go and get involved with tiddlywinks or somewhere else where they are looking to drain out any sign of showboating. Why do you think scantily clad women parade around a boxing ring during a fight? Why do you think the 20-20 format is so popular in cricket now? Why does Premier League Darts have sell out crowds full of enthusiastic punters? Because of the showmanship involved! Why do we admire the Zidane's, Di Canio's and Cantona's of this world? Were these great names showing a disrespect every time they turned someone inside out or chipped a hapless keeper standing 20 yards off their line? Of course not, so what's the fuss about here?

Here's to Awana Diab and all those like him, the day we run out of Awana Diab's is the day our game will die.