Football has been tribal and jingoistic for over a century. Where it succeed in penetrating beyond the scope of a mere sport, it is inherently primitive. This can be a healthy way for people to remain in contact with all that is important in life but it’s often not.
Writing in today’s Sun, former Celtic player (good grief) , Ian ‘Wrighty’ Wright said: “The next young player who says he does not want to play for England should be ordered to ring the parents of a soldier who has died serving his country in Afghanistan and tell them his reasons”.
To invoke the memory of those who have sacrificed their lives in order to rebuke reluctant footballers is beyond primitive, it is debased and ugly. Bereaved parents would surely be sickened at attempts to equate their sacrifice with a football game. Football and our media have lost their way. Wright should be ashamed, but he won’t be, it’s nonsense like this which newspapers pay for. His media value will have increased.
Harry Redknapp’s ill-made comments about Spurs players not wanting to travel for England games are also a nonsense. There’s not a top-flgiht manager in the game who’s yet to experience players reluctant to fly to Tbilisi, or some other distant destination, for a friendly instead of resting at home with his family. If you are a top pro, these games hold little excitement or value and come at a fitness cost, to pretend otherwise is being duplicitous.
Players with imposing club demands can see these games far enough. Those involved in European football often have two games per week for months, depleting resources and adding strains to muscles. A flight to the back of beyond before a thankless task of a game is simply not an attractive offer. Most players go, but let’s be honest, almost all will choose times to back out occasionally.
England are hurting after an awful World Cup but it will be counter-productive to hand the stage over to jingoistic lunatics. And ‘Wrighty’, if anyone asks you to pull the Paradise Windfall one day, don’t feel obliged to pitch up.
Visit the CQN Bookstore to get Tommy Gemmell to sign your personal copy of his book, All the Best.
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‘I’ve been crying out for Samaras to play through the middle’ Keown
Great research, Martin. Have a word with your colleagues that actually have a brain – WGS and NL. They prefer him out on the left. A lot.
BBC favouring Ivory Coast. More Drogba chat to be had.
Boring.
Jap-Col game looking the better game. Japan have been poor so far but very good in qualifying.
Praecept
100% agree.
HH
Ryecatcher, I suspect that you are just being racist. Say it ain’t so, Joe.
Too much bumping of gums and gnashing of teeth on here for me the night..
Scrub that about the Jap-Col game, Lawrenson is commenting
Mibbees Ernie Walker was right about the Uruguayans after all. Individually, at least, if not collectively!
HH
End London rule. YES
Sammi’s dyslexic wee brother coming on.
Sorry.
Coat on.
HH!!
Pen Columbia, right call
Ch. 164 Virgin BBC3 HD
Ch 163, scores 1 nil
Even after having their team humiliated , those English pundits still have no respect for those players they deem to be from a lesser nation or inferior league.
I don’t mind some of their players, in fact I have a lot of time for a few of them ( Rooney & Gerard and obviously oor Fraser ) but the sanctimonious twaddle from the likes of Lineker and that fool Durham really gets my goat. GIRUT!!
Congratulations to Stubbsy.
Just when he had got used to fitba without corruption I’m afraid he’ll be well used to it again when he plays Sevco & the minis.
I wish him well
Ps C’mon Sammi !!
Ffs!
Sammi’s had a shave!
Disnae look right.
HH!!
To be honest I’m not in the least bit bothered about Suarez’s latest misdemeanor, and spare me the mock indignation all he did was have a bite at an opponent. The player in question won’t who was biten won’t lie awake tonight wondering if his career has been ended, he got bit on the shoulder and the bite was so severe it didn’t even draw blood. His offence didn’t effect the outcome of the game.
What about all the dives we have saw at this tournament? Think about it, what we are saying is that we want to review every game and every missed call by the ref. If you’re not sayng this then why? Surely every decision missed by the ref is worthy of scruteny after the event. Or is it only ones that the moral majority deem worthy?
What was worse Tommy G kicking an opponent in the baws or what Suarez did? It turned out Tommy had a habit of reacting like this, should he have been banned for a year? Or is it only biting that merits such punishment?
Should Suarez be punished? Of course he should but it should be purportionate to his crime. One thing that shouldn’t happen is for past offences to be used against him as no other player that has been penalised at this tournament has had their past disciplinary record used against them.
Football has disciplinary rules for a reason, let’s not start making them up to suit outraged armchair vigilantes.
Praecepta
“………..If FIFA have any balls they should ban him from International Football – sine die!”
I think we know the answer to that on mate, although agree with everything you say, this has nothing to do with background, but everything to do with being overhyped,over paid prima donnas. By taking a strong stand FIFA will ensure this football tournament remains the story and not weak governance.
eddieinkirkmichael
——
Score was nil nil when Suarez bit his opponent, Italy were going through. A minute later Uruguay scored from the corner sending Italy out.
A red card shouldve been given to Suarez, which effected the result.
Tackling is allowed in football.
Biting an opponent is NOT.
HH!!
Tallybhoy
Miss Giorgi wins in straight sets
PFayr
my main bet for the EPL next season will be to take
any of the top teams against Liverpool in a match bet
will be amazed if they do anywhere near as well next season
Lawrenson mentions that the stadium is similar to ibronx, Jonathan Pearce responds by saying two 3rd division teams play in this stadium :o)
Eddie
Spot on
A guy who plays over govan has elbowed players in the face week in week out for years
Powell and Lawrenson, the Mike and Bernie Winters of commentary.
Lawro…’its a bit like Ibrox this stadium’.
Powell…’yes Mark, two third division teams play here’.
gordybhoy
Thanks for that. Missed it.
At least Italy won something tonight!
Will be watching out for her in the next few days.
HH!!
Pearce!
the_huddle
21:22 o
After being bitten the Italian reacted by swinging his arm trying to hit Suarez in the face. By the laws of the game he broke the rules, you don’t have to make contact it’s the intend that counts so he should also have been sent off.
As things stand the first 2 last 16 games on Saturday will be an all South America affair – Brazil v Chile and Colombia v Urugay
eddieinkirkmichael
what punishment should Suarez receive in your opinion
eddieinkirkmichael
Outraged armchair vigilantes?
So your kid is playing football (or insert any other contact sport) and his opponent:
1) Dives in front of your kid
2) Spits on your kid
3) Bites your kid
As a parent which of these ‘misdemeanours’ would bother you least?
eddieinkirkmichael
——–
The Italian defender did no different to the Chelsea player when bitten, they jolted and tried to shake of the bite. No way the ref red cards both players there if he sees everything.
And that Italian defenders is one of the dirtiest defenders around today but doesnt excuse that incident.
Lovely play Greece & Big Sami clattered
gordybhoy64
21:31 on
Whatever the punishment is for violent conduct at this tournament, nothing more nothing less
All those gags about Suarez asking Gerrard to put his bins out for him this week are a bit premature as hopefully he’ll be able to do it himself .disaster of a World Cup for the Anfield boys
Think this is probably the weakest group in the tournament??
‘After being bitten the Italian reacted by swinging his arm trying to hit Suarez in the face.’
At least he never tried to bite him back!
Personally I would have booted the wee racist shite in the boz.
HH!!
praecepta
21:32 on
Did the ref or PE teacher see any of the 3 offences or am I allowed to veiw the school video of the incident before answering?
Did Duarez bite his opponent?
Looks like from the pics on social media he did!!! Big time!!
Did it affect the result???
Thats the big question.
If he got caught and let off he didnt.
But the ref’s (as much as i hate the masonics scottish ones) do not have eyes on the back of there heads. He didnt see it and italy got pumped. Mon the juventus (everyone remember that???)
He will get banned, no doubt and if he doesnt then football is wrong.
Let fifa take the reigns and calm the feck down.
He will go to Barca and will be a tremendous success.
Can you imagine Messi, Suarez and Neymar as a front line????
Frightening *insert biting joke here*
Sad news breaking –
Connie McLaughlin @missconniemac 1m
Former SFA chief executive David Taylor has died, aged 60