The strange (and often unfair) history of the World Cup’s Fair Play award

12-Dec-2022 14:58:14 | Guardian

England and Japan are vying for the Fair Play award in Qatar – but it’s hard to guess what the judges will do

England’s elimination to France was hard to take for Harry Kane. An even quarter-final swung on his skied penalty six minutes from the end. Had Kane found the net, he would have taken the game into extra-time and also overtaken Wayne Rooney as England’s all-time top scorer. Instead he missed and left the field looking broken.

It will not bring Kane much consolation, but England look likely to win the Fair Play trophy at this World Cup. Harry Maguire’s booking on Saturday was the only yellow England picked up in their five games in Qatar, and the respectful manner in which they accepted their defeat to France will have added to their case. By contrast, the Argentina v Netherlands quarter-final the day before produced a World Cup record of 18 yellow cards for players and coaching staff.