On Saturday, Manchester Citys Sergio Aguero plunged the sports-world into a dispute it has actually proven consistently its not all set to manage. The event took location in the very first half of Citys video game with Arsenal, as Aguero argued a throw-in granted to Arsenal with lineswoman Sian Massey-Ellis.
The parameters are different here. Aguero isnt coming on to Massey-Ellis or anything like it, however there is a sense of familiarity or convenience that he would not have with a male referee that isnt always felt the very same method by Massey-Ellis (Premier League refs dont speak to the press and Massey-Ellis has yet to comment). Its not intimidation, nor is Aguero doing his “Wild and Crazy Guys” impression here, however there is an element of “Seriously, infant.”
When he put his arm around female EPL ref Sian Massey-Ellis, Man Citys Sergio Aguero set off a firestorm on Saturday. Screenshot: English Premier League
Its too cozy, and putting your hand casually on a lady, even with the most benign objectives, implies something totally different than doing so on a male. Even if its the most affordable possible suggestion of something untoward, its there. The dynamics at work are simply different, and at the end of the day, weaken Massey-Elliss authority.
The very first instinct is to see this as pretty innocuous. The concept that gamers dont touch male referees all the time is plainly wrong. Often players will drape an arm over the shoulder of a ref to attempt and talk their method out of a yellow card or to reveal understanding for a provided call.
Seldom is much made of it.
By guideline, Aguero going unpunished for this makes sense, as what was done was not in an aggressive or threatening manner. Thats the premises for disciplining a player for touching a referee.
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The characteristics at work are simply various, and at the end of the day, weaken Massey-Elliss authority.
Aguero isnt coming on to Massey-Ellis or anything like it, but there is a sense of familiarity or comfort that he would not have with a male referee that isnt necessarily felt the exact same way by Massey-Ellis (Premier League refs do not speak to the press and Massey-Ellis has yet to comment). Its not intimidation, nor is Aguero doing his “Wild and Crazy Guys” impression here, however there is an aspect of “Seriously, baby.”
To hope that soccer as a whole can modify their guidelines to represent this sort of thing is somewhere in the exact same neighborhood of intending to see the Easter Bunny. FIFA and the Premier League have a history of making just about anything worse. Still, its a question for more than simply soccer, with female authorities in the NBA and now their ranks increasing in the NFL also.
Its most likely youll see some decry the ideas of various rules for male officials and female ones, but thats pretty much the deal offered the various forces at work.
Aguero almost certainly had no ill-intentions, but it isnt the objective that matters. Even on just an optics-level its bad, and the Premier League ought to most likely resolve it going forward so there isnt a repeat down the line.
Aguero probably had no ill-intentions, but it isnt the intention that matters. Its the effect, the actions. Even on just an optics-level its bad, and the Premier League need to probably address it going forward so there isnt a repeat down the line.
The problem in the discourse afterwards is its constantly males discussing whether or not it was suitable, so perhaps its finest to leave it to among the leading voices of those who cover the sport, whos also a woman, in Rebecca Lowe.
