England’s proudest evening? We hope…
Wednesday evening should be a night to savour as two English teams grace the Champions League final in Moscow for the first time in its history. It is being billed as a showcase of the strongest and most exciting football league in the world, as the rest of the globe look on, feverishly applauding and drooling with jealousy.
I’m afraid sportaholics and in particular footie fanatics, on any mention of Wednesday night warning signals start ringing in my head. Nightmare visions begin to emerge of John Terry and his band of threatening men surrounding a dwarfed referee, waiting like hyenas for the kill. More images appear, this time of Wayne Rooney jumping up and down gesticulating like an ork from Lord of the Rings. The greatest league on the planet? Do me a favour…
When will the authorities stop condoning players threatening and hurling abuse at referees? I hate to single out one man, but Wayne Rooney is the English hero for all young children, but his professional behaviour needs stringent reviewing. One example is the climax of the current season against Wigan. He appealed for a penalty which was turned down by the referee. However immediately afterwards, a deep stare and red glow washes over his face and he runs to target the man in black. You do not have to be a lip reading expert to see he is not asking the referee politely exactly why a penalty was not given.
Even more bewildering is the fact that he performs like this every week despite seeing himself on television looking like a cross between a demonic figure and spoilt seven year old school girl who has just been refused a pony. Does he think it is funny? More worryingly does he think it is normal behaviour? If it was me I would be utterly ashamed of myself.
Why is this behaviour tolerated in English football? In Rugby Union a player who speaks out of turn to the official is simply banished from proceedings. A hard line is taken with only the captains allowed to talk to the referee. It would take time to adjust and at the beginning the sending off rate would be silly, but maybe even a simple sin bin would be a start. I think it is vitally important to rid football of this behaviour. England could set the benchmark for the global game.
The Premier League collectively must take responsibility. The great talent on show on Wednesday night should showcase the Premier League as the greatest league on the planet. But the teams must understand someone has to lose and win. As difficult as it is to stomach, losing and decisions not going your way are the foundations of why we all love this game. What else would we talk about? I just hope an air of grace is pumped into the dressing rooms before kick off, and the great talents on show put on a spectacle that we can all be proud of.