Horrific injuries abound in World Cup.

[Brother Karamazov]

I respect the athleticism and skill demonstrated by the World Cup players.  Their endurance is impressive. 

But their little heralded acting skills deserve recognition as well. Am I alone in this?

I am aware of no other sport in which dramatic acting is as important as soccer.

It is obligatory that every time a player makes contact with an opposing player he must immediately fall to the ground and feign excruitiating pain. This acting need only last until the official makes a decison, at which point the player jumps up smiling and instantaneously recovered. 

The display of agony is designed to influence the referee's decision regarding whether any penalties ought to be assessed.  This is tremendously important because in soccer the acting out of a painful injury seems to be the primary factor in determining if a penalty will be called.

It is common to see a player rolling around on the ground, clutching his leg, and grimacing in pain; only to see in instant replay that his leg was not touched at all.

I would not be surprised to see a player collapse onto the turf, grabbing his head, with eyes crossed, while pointing at an opponent on the other side of the field and pleading with the referee, "Have you no sense of justice. That man just kicked me in the groin!"  His teammates, ofcourse, look on in horror and gesticulate wildly, shocked that the ref could have somehow missed this travesty. 

Why are these extraordinary dramatics not recognized?

I hereby suggest that FIFA, in association with the Academy Awards, introduce "best actor" awards for those players most able to create the illusion of horrific brutality and physical suffering. 

The categories should be:

1. Best actor, suffering terrible pain.
2. Best actor, supporting role, unable to believe his eyes.
3. Best actor, supporting role, the plea for justice.

[RAmenPirate]

And right after the acceptance  speech for THAT award, could be the awards for actual sport injuries which can most easily be viewed (almost daily) on the Tour De France coverage:

1. Best performance by a cyclist continuing after a crash - abrasions to torso (blood and ripped lycra in full view).
2. Best performance by a cyclist continuing after a crash - abrasions to face and/or hands (bloody).
3. Best performance by a cyclist continuing after a crash - broken collarbone.

Eventually add categories for best supporting role by a teammate of the wounded, dropping back to pace them back up to the peloton etc.

In fact, the winner of BK's award should be the presenter for the awards above.