Pitch invasions must stop

Let’s get real. Bahrain has a problem.

I am not referring to the reality check of a humbling defeat at the hands of an extremely good Colombia side that looked as though it was playing within itself – in a victory that could have been even more substantial if not for a couple of disallowed goals.

I do not know if Colombia, the referee or FIFA will have complained – if not, I wish they would. At one level I can see the hilarity in watching lumbering security staff slither around the outfield chasing self-indulgent pitch-invaders. However, at best, this is irksome to see the game in full flow interrupted.

At one stage it deprived Colombia of another near-certain goal as the referee halted the game at a crucial moment. Yet this poses a genuine security risk and would not be tolerated in many parts of the world. Clubs and nations have been banned from hosting matches as a result of similar failures to control their supporters.

This article started with the sentence ‘let’s get real’ as I have heard some subsequent reports that there were ‘two’ or a ‘couple’ of these interlopers. Rubbish! There were more than that in injury time alone when the number of intruders appeared to be greater than those trying to prevent them and some carried on running on to the pitch after the proceedings were over.

Furthermore, the manner in which the pitch invaders were allowed to interrupt the formal presentations and national anthems at the beginning was simply insulting and completely undermined the warm welcome and hospitality for which Bahrain is famous.

Let’s face it, no-one wants to watch a game from behind barbed wire and see trenches separate the fans from the players. Yet the safety and security of the players and officials has to be sacrosanct. In Bahrain, it was not. If Bahrain wishes to attract the best in the world it must be more careful or teams will simply not come.

At a lesser level – although equally its another global phenomenon that should be eradicated from football – the laser pens used to distract Colombia’s players were presumably manned by the same mindless idiots that may ‘graduate’ to pitch invasions yet prefer the anonymity of the stands.

On the other hand there was much to applaud. In some parts of the world home teams make their stadium as hostile and intimidating as possible. Bahrain went for the opposite effect, welcoming Colombia with Latin American music piped through the PA-system and the TV focusing on the fervent opposition support. Bahrain was being invited to rumba!

The announcement of No. 9, Radamel Falcao, drew the largest cheer of the evening ensuring there was no doubting the divided loyalties of the crowd, hoping Bahrain could somehow produce a miracle result while his substitution in the 70th minute was the prelude to a mass exodus, although this could also have had something to do with the 4-0 score-line at the time!

Captain Falcao’s two goals in five minutes settled the affair early on as World Cup quarter-finalists Colombia crushed Bahrain 6-0 in the Copa America warm-up match at the National Stadium in Riffa on Thursday. The Copa America in Chile will be held from June 11 to July 4.

Falcao, who is lacking regular first team football at Manchester United, leapt at the chance to lead his country’s attack and responded with goals in the 32nd and 36th minutes to take his tally to 23 in 55 internationals, as GulfWeekly’s Back Page suggested he would last week.

Carlos Bacca, Adrian Ramos, Johan Mojica and Andres Renteria were also on target for the visitors who were without World Cup ace James Rodriguez for the friendly.
 
The atmosphere under the roof of the stand was vibrant from kick-off where the incessant noise was trapped from the drummer and soloist who kept the crowd entertained throughout, remarkably without changing tune or beat, making me wonder whether they were even watching the match! It is a shame that the ground looked only half-full even when bolstered by hordes of late arrivals.

Bahrain’s defence was equally hospitable seemingly allowing the Colombians to score at will having apparently been given the Freedom of Riffa, particularly down the flanks.

I do believe that Bahrain can do much better although in parts they showed real skill.

Our No 12 Faouzi Ayesh who plies his trade with Qatar’s Al Sailiya looked as though he could grace any pitch in Europe, always wanting the ball and not afraid to fight to win it, demonstrating a level of determination missing in many of his colleagues.

Tricky forward Abdulla Janahi and midfielder Abdulwahab Ali occasionally showed the celebrated Colombian full-backs a clean pair of heels and a fine free-kick nearly made an impression.

To me, what was lacking was initially belief in themselves that they could compete against such prestigious luminaries. It appeared as though they were overawed and simply grateful to be rubbing shoulders with some of the greatest players on the planet.

To be fair, it is a position I perfectly understand. Yet how much better would they feel in the aftermath had they competed against these players on level terms rather than simply capitulate. This is probably a little harsh on Bahrain’s finest, yet it is frustrating to watch from the stands and know they could have done better.

Stemming from this was a personal perspective that Bahrain often was looking to go backwards rather than forwards. A couple of technical tweaks could have made a big difference.

Bahrain had its chances although they were few and far between as Colombia demonstrated the gulf in class, being technically more proficient and tactically more astute. The substitutions in the second half became difficult to keep track of as the game lost its momentum.

It was wonderful to see a team as rich in talent as the Colombians perform at the National Stadium. To improve Bahrain has to keep testing itself against the best in the world – on and off the pitch.