Pushing the envelope

Many years ago – I reckon in the mid 1970s – Wales were leading the All Blacks when New Zealand lock Andy Haden was seemingly fouled in a line out.

Wales were penalised and the All Blacks took a crucial late lead.

Later Haden confessed that this was a rehearsed ploy.

I tell the story as it illustrates the thin line in sport between cheating and pushing the envelope.

Probably the best known example of cheating was the Maradona ‘ hand of God’ hand-ball.

Batsmen would routinely stay in the crease after they had snicked a ball, whilst fielders would appeal for a catch from a ‘ bump ball’.

Conversely once the rule came in Association and Rugby football that subs were to be allowed for an injury, it was so exploited by feigned injury that the rule changed.

In boxing Mohammed Ali’s legendary ring man Angelo Dundee loosened the ring ropes in the famous rope-a-dope victory over George Foreman but it was up to the other ring men to notice this.

I mention all of this in the context over the controversy at the Abu Dhabi Grand Prix.

I do not follow Formula 1, let alone know the rules, but reading the press reports it would seem that Red Bull had done nothing wrong.

The race director determined there should be a safety car after the Latifi accident and cars be ‘ de-lapped’.

This allowed Max Verstappen to change to faster tyres and to hunt down Lewis Hamilton.

Were the roles reversed I am pretty certain Hamilton would have done the same.