The Unsportsman like Foul!

[spacejammer]

Hi guys as I mentioned on a thread the other day I've started to notice a rise in the number of unsportmanslike fouls that officials are starting to call.

I have noticed it in quite a few Eagles games some Sky Sports Games as well.
This has sometimes led to what I would also regard as unnecessary ejections like the game early in the season between Lions and Riders where Ovie Soko got DQ after a pety unsportsmans call.

When I think of the word unsportman I usually think of something malicious or unfriendly going on.
But even when it's little contact and a player going for the ball the refs seem to call unsportsman.

I understand rules are rules but I sometimes do think it can be up for debate whether it can be viewed as officiating gone mad?
Like if fouling someone in transition gets you an unsportman because your the only one back on defence.

Perhaps they should change the rules and rename it the "stop defender foul" or something then as long as it ain't malicious it would save an unnecessary ejection from the game.

Your thoughts?

[reallyoldfeenixfan2]

Agreed the number of those fouls has certainly increased, it does make it difficult for players to attempt any defence when there is a chance that they may get called. Often its just a instinctive move without thought to stop a player, if it's not dangerous or an obvious attempt to foul
then you might apply commonsense.

[SamH]

What annoys me is when late in the game players are trying to deliberately foul to send stop the clock and put someone on the foul line, and the refs call it unsportsman like! In some ways it is because you are trying to gain an advantage by fouling on purpose - but that's the nature of the game and every team in the world does it! The actual level of contact isn't usually excessive but can be more than a normal foul because the player wants to make sure the ref calls it. I just think they need to use their brain a bit in this situation and understand that it is a deliberate foul. Obviously if the guy goes in really hard or clobbers someone round the head, that's different - but that isn't what happens!

[tallerman]

I haven’t noticed it but will pay close attention this weekend. I have noticed what seems to be an increase in air balls though!