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Rugby 'snobbery' towards Fifa World Cup controversy is getting crucified online
By Sam Smith
A social media post by a rugby website taking the high ground over a Fifa World Cup controversy has backfired and become the latest example of rugby's perceived snobbery over other sports.
The dramatic Fifa World Cup quarter-final between Argentina and the Netherlands ended with a penalty shootout win to the South Americans, who were overly ecstatic with the result of the penalty shootout.
The Argentinians were famously photographed screaming at the Dutch players as they ran past to celebrate reaching the World Cup semi-final.
Rugby website 'Planet Rugby' shared the image claiming that the behaviour by the Argentinians would never be seen in rugby.
The post read: "Don't say it, don't say it, don't say it... Wouldn't happen in rugby" along with an image of the moment.
The post has backfired spectacularly however, with many fed up with the perpetual insistence by rugby that it is 'different' in a holier-than-thou sense.
Many Twitter users fired up to dispel the myth that rugby supporters can stand on a pedestal and continue to look down on other sports and continue to be self-righetous.
One user wrote: "This rubbish is medieval and has to stop" while another wrote "everything that is wrong with rugby"
Other users raised the fake blood scandal from Harlequins in the Premiership as evidence that rugby has a fair share of unsportsmanlike incidents. The overall response was overwhelming negative.
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Latest Comments
To be fair it was nowhere bear the Leinster first team (for which, btw, Leinster copped nothing like the outrage that Jake White did for sending a rotated team to the UK). But it’s fun to watch the Stormers doing their thing. They are attracting big, diverse crowds of young fans, and deservedly so. Great to see.
Go to commentsIt might be legal but he’s sailing pretty close to the wind. Not a lot needs to go wrong for Finau to end up in the bin. Was it late? Not quite, but borderline. High? A couple of CM within the laws, no room for error with that one. Did he wrap the arms? There was a token effort to wrap one arm, the intent was clearly to hit with the shoulder. So yeah, it’s legal, just. But as we all know, a very slight change in the dynamics could easily have him seeing red. Hopefully not when it really matters.
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