In yesterday’s FIFA world cup final, Argentina defeated defending champions France in a thrilling encounter to win the cup after 36 years. It was the third title for Argentina. Both teams gave it their all in an entertaining game, as the match went to a penalty shootout. Even though the fans are terming it the most entertaining world cup final of all time, a few disagree. Senior tennis journalist Ben Rothenberg was not happy with the rules regarding the penalty kicks awarded during the game.
After the match, the American took to his Twitter account and shared his opinion. Here’s what happened next.
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Lionel Messi fans call out Ben Rothenberg for downplaying his goal
Ben Rothenberg is a senior tennis journalist and is among the top reporters covering the sport. However, with the soccer world cup going on, the American switched his attention to it. Yesterday, in the final between Argentina and France, Rothenberg was not happy with the game’s penalty rule.
The penalty just doesn’t fit the infraction whatsoever. A guy falls down near you and his teammate is awarded a point-blank shot in a sport where it’s otherwise super hard to score? Dumb rule.
Second goal was great and nifty, but the penalty rules are terrible. Could improve!
— Ben Rothenberg (@BenRothenberg) December 18, 2022
“The penalty just doesn’t fit the infraction whatsoever. A guy falls down near you and his teammate is awarded a point-blank shot in a sport where it’s otherwise super hard to score? Dumb rule. Second goal was great and nifty, but the penalty rules are terrible. Could improve!” Rothenberg wrote.
However, Messi fans were not happy with the American who downplayed their hero’s goal in the world cup final. Here are a few reactions from fans who reacted in anger.
I would try to get one good tennis opinion under the belt before moving onto bad opinions about other sports https://t.co/6qf5TsZ6JR
— Aaryan (@Aaryan_P5) December 19, 2022
Dumb American clown 🤡 https://t.co/plss4pL4P6
— SRF 🇦🇷🇫🇷 (@S_RF_CA) December 19, 2022
While Rothenberg called the soccer and its rules ‘d*mb’, a fan replied with silly rules that are there in tennis.
I mean players get fined in tennis for wearing hats the ATP doesn’t like 😂😂😂 https://t.co/ZVaQBYy9bT
— Tennis World (Mike) (@secondserves) December 18, 2022
You host a tennis podcast where mfers can't count properly. Shut up. https://t.co/4Gi9B3GiHD
— Nick Mpampakitis (@N_Mpampakitis) December 18, 2022
Another unimpressed fan wrote,
I would say stick to tennis… but your opinions on tennis are shite too xx https://t.co/jU4JrqsxBs
— s|| tennis hibernation szn🫠🫠 (@bagelbreadstix) December 18, 2022
you’re american your views on football don’t matter sorry https://t.co/xO9chsxWfT
— mar 😌 (@vamosandreyyy) December 18, 2022
Who the fuck is this https://t.co/HUPs8fay8C
— han (@turkishcpfc) December 18, 2022
you a) like tennis, b) are american, and c) are literally american, shut up https://t.co/INPQY37y6U
— joe (@spinningjoe) December 18, 2022
Ben Suckerberg talking football is hilarious https://t.co/SBjr1GUu3l
— Abdullah (@abdullahhammad4) December 19, 2022
Another fan, recalling the popular picture of Nadal picking his trousers, wrote,
Ben nobody cares you nonce. Stick to watching Nadal picking his wedgie. https://t.co/hQgWyJzD7O
— Jacky (@jacketpota) December 18, 2022
Finally, a fan agreed with Rothenberg. However, he also went ahead and indirectly mocked him by taking a jibe at American sports.
While he has a point, I’m not sure Americans get to talk about dumb sports having dumb rules… https://t.co/3cZPhXWZ8m
— 🎾 Angelic Scootus 😇 🚵♂️ (@evilscootus) December 18, 2022
Another fan came up with a comparison of both sports globally, referring to the growing popularity of soccer.
at least it knows how to market itself. tennis is dying bc it refuses to make the sport at all accessible and just blames the attention span of the youth, like boomers yelling at the sky x https://t.co/WQOAM9Y2Ag
— el (@grasseasons) December 18, 2022
While the observations seemed logical, the fans were in no mood to take soccer advice from a tennis expert, as it was a big moment with Lionel Messi probably playing in his last world cup, and finally winning it.
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What do you think about Rothenberg’s observation? Let us know in the comments.
