They're taking the balls out of football

By Paul Flower on Mar 19, 09 02:04 PM

It's readily-accepted, with a few exceptions, that footballers are not the brightest. Indeed they should probably only express themselves on the pitch or using their wallets in the shops to prop up the dwindling economy.

Unfortunately we live in a celebrity-obsessed world and many people hang off every comment that their idols expel. On that basis maybe it was less than diplomatic for Wayne Rooney to point out that he 'hates' Liverpool.

On the flipside though, why shouldn't he? Aside from the fact that it conflicts with my fear that players shouldn't talk too confidently about a match before it takes place - as it may only inflame and inspire your opponents (something that may be true of this instance), football is built on rivalry; it's a competitive sport and sometimes the only thing better than your team doing well is your rivals suffering in some manner.

As a West Brom fan I accept that Wolves are gloating over our troubles this season - as I hope and pray we are able to do to them next year when they have an even worse premiership season than us.

I prefer to deflect their taunts by not recognising them as our worthy rivals. When I first became an Albion fan (many years ago in my childhood) Wolves were completely off the radar, subsequently my fiercest rivalry has always been with Villa. I think most Albion fans only patronise the Wolves hatred because we've dropped a million miles from that Aston team in the past two decades.

It is commonplace for football fans to despise their nearest geographical (and sometimes competitive) rivals. Thus Arsenal hate Tottenham, but also Chelsea for usurping them. Man Utd hate City, but probably hate Liverpool more. It goes with the territory.

OK, so we're all supposed to play nicely these days and professionals are meant to exhibit sportsmanlike behaviour on and off the pitch. It makes football a bit dull though doesn't it? We've become accustomed to managers sitting placidly on the bench whilst their teams score goals, looking not so much happy but actually as if their closest relations have been assassinated. Some of them show so few signs of life; it's as if you might have to shake them to alert them to the fact that there's an entertaining game going on. Not that I see many of those at the Hawthorns of late.

How did it come to this? Players who only turn up for the paycheque and know nothing of their club's heritage and managers who appear to have had the life sucked out of them. Managers who can't (or won't) elucidate about the games or incidents they have and haven't seen, but can talk for hours about their dull contractual wrangling as they jockey for the fan's favour.

Obviously the influx of money plays a part; sponsors probably can't cope with real emotion - in case it conflicts with their brand values. There is also the issue of scrutiny - with regard to the premiership it is all around and I imagine that most people in a position of responsibility try not to put a foot or a word wrong.

This I understand - players are meant to set an example, but it seems not to stop them falling out of clubs, getting arrested or crashing their cars. All of which is very different than showing a bit of passion for the game. Football should be full-blooded, occasionally aggressive (on the field) and often full-contact. Essentially it's gladiatorial and always partisan.

Footballers do a lot wrong; let's not pull them up on the few occasions they actually get it right. Haranguing the ref is not on, but hating your rivals? That's fair game.