FIFA Needs To Learn From the NHL and Make the Game Safer

This past week, Matt Cooke of the Pittsburgh Penguins was suspended for the rest of the regular season as well as the first round of the playoffs for a dangerous elbow to the head of the New York Rangers' Ryan McDonagh.

As a repeat offender, the NHL were under immense pressure from general managers to punish Cooke.

Three weeks ago, Wayne Rooney committed a similar offence in a game against Wigan Athletic without even a yellow card to show for it.

The difference in reaction from the two governing bodies as well as pundits and players alike has been staggering.

Rooney received no punishment in the aftermath and the hit was described as either an accident, the player protecting himself from the oncoming, unknowing James McCarthy or James McCarthy getting in Rooney’s way.

That's rubbish.

It may have something to do with the FA’s fear of Manchester United and Alex Ferguson, or maybe it just highlights their inconsistencies in dealing with dangerous play.

But what it definitely shows is that there are nowhere near the pressures coming from those in positions of power than there are in the NHL.

While the roles of the two players may be different for their respective clubs, the Pittsburgh Penguins will be going into the final stretch of league games without a player who has consistently been in the team.

The idea of Wayne Rooney being suspended for such a period of time is practically unheard of.

Yes, we have seen football leagues take action before. Not so much for dangerous play, but more for assault, such as when Real Madrid’s Pepe was given a 10-game ban for kicking an opponent.

But what makes that any different to Rooney’s hit? Where do we draw the line?

Matt Cooke’s suspension comes from a sport where hard hitting is the norm and there will always be accidents such as Zdeno Chara’s hit on Max Pacioretty. But the fact that the NHL want to outlaw dangerous hits to the head, with the full backing of the GM’s, shows the lengths they are willing to go to in order to make the sport safer.

Ironically, Cooke’s fellow teammate and NHL poster-boy Sidney Crosby was injured two months ago in a similar hit that resulted in concussion-like symptoms.

With rumours swirling around that his parents want him to quit the game at the age of 23, messages to punish instigators such as Cooke became even more intense.

It's about time FIFA moved away from the embarrassing non-issue of banning snoods and looked into outlawing dangerous and reckless play.

I’m not saying take tackling out of the game, or similarly ridiculous statements. But it's so important that the higher governing bodies take steps to improve the safety of players. They need to look to their counterparts in North America and observe the way they deal with players who make it unsafe for others.

Two great sports who make their name off “highlight reel” plays and goals need to understand the importance of uniting in the effort to clamp out life-threatening attacks.

After all, what kind of slogan would it be for the poster-boy of an internationally recognised sport having to retire early due to dangerous hits resulting in numerous concussions?