Lie Detector For Soccer Players

Filed in archive Oddballs on April 27, 2006

source: bushin30seconds.org

You've got to love Romanian soccer, for it's pure craziness if nothing else. And if you thought it didn't get any crazier than teams trading meat for players then prepare for a surprise. Constantin Iacov, the main shareholder of Romanian First Division team National Bucharest, is taking drastic action after the team lost two consecutive games. He's forcing all the players to take lie detector polygraphs to ensure they're giving 100% effort. "It's about a moral audit which will allow our players to show they played honestly against Vaslui and Petrosani," said Iacov. "I think it's normal to check your employees from time to time."

At first glance this sounds insane, but it might be a truly excellent idea. What if Laurent Robert had been forced to take such a test. Can he honestly claim to be giving 100% effort by just standing on the left touch line and waiting for a free kick he might fancy taking? How about Harry Kewell and Mark Viduka? I'd love to see Premiership teams employ the polygraph test, if only to see who fails.