Do you watch the Olympic Games even when you suspect some of the athletes are doping? Illustration: Paul Scott
We think cheating in sport is black and white. We say we are opposed to it. Or does that depend? Here are some questions: where does foul play end and cheating start? Where is the intersection between cynicism and cheating? How much are you prepared to tolerate?
Nobody has clear conscience on this matter. Everyone of us has cheered for cheating in particular circumstances of self-interest. In those cases, it is not about right and wrong, it is about winning and losing.
For example: did you ever want somebody brought down when they were clean through on goal? Did you characterise it as (a) foul play, (b) cynicism, (c) part of the game, (d) a relief or (e) cheating? You didn’t care as long as the threat was eliminated.
Did you feel like a hypocrite for being up-in-arms when the act was committed against your team? No?
Outrage is subjective.
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