When Emmanuel Adebayor scored that goal and set off towards the Arsenal fans, it was a brilliant bit of drama; such things are one of the reasons we love football's soap opera.
If he wants to laud his goal in front of his previous fans, who, let's not forget, have felt completely at ease with abusing him, then he bloody well should be allowed to do so without getting booked or any further discipline from the FA.
If in doing so he reveals himself as a self-absorbed, soulless nancy boy, that doesn't matter. Let him express himself as he wishes. We will judge the nature of the man accordingly. But no, the authorities from the referee upwards want to prescribe both what we see and how we should feel about it.
Consequently, Adebayor could be suspended for this harmless bit of theatrics. Remember what I said about the pussyfication of football a few weeks ago?
That's it, right there. Classic.
"He could have caused a riot," said that appallingly sensationalist Gary Richardson on 5Live to FA Chief Ian Watmore. Richardson reserved his criticism for the player and not the fans that started to fight with the stewards. Rubbish.
Clearly Adebayor couldn't have started a 'riot' because a riot did not happen. If he could have started one, one would have happened. But it didn't. What did happen was a few fans went ape-poo, and it's those fans who are the real problem, not the player.
What sort of fool can be driven to 'riot' by a footballer? Why should a player have to bear in mind what the reaction of a small minority of crazy, over-emotional numptys might be, especially when it spoils the fun for the rest of us sentient creatures who are able to resist the urge to become a street-fighting man as a response to a footballer's actions?
No footballer has ever, nor ever could make me want to create civil disorder and I'm sure you feel exactly the same. Yes, they can annoy and frustrate. Yes, you may wish to swear at them sometimes - but enough to start fighting? Enough to lose your mind? Have some self control. He is just not that important. Not important enough to commit violence or wanton destruction over. That's not your passion for the game, or the club, it's just inappropriate, emotionally incontinent over-reaction and needs to be condemned as such.
Whatever a player does we have a responsibility not to hurt or cause distress to each other because of it. That is surely bare minimum for a civilised society. It's not him, it's you.
A collective pointing and laughing session would have successful pricked Adebayor's hubris far more than fighting with a steward ever could. Imagine it; a few thousand people laughing loudly and pointing at him on his knees. Clearly, the insults, the 'give-him-hell' approach, just doesn't work. Rather, it inspires the player to put it right up the ex-club.
Not taking him seriously is a far bigger insult to a self-important, puffed-up man. But no, instead, let's fight with the stewards, yeah that makes a lot of sense. And you want to claim the moral high ground over Adebayor eh? Riiiiiight.
It is the reaction of that small number of fans that in the end - through the whole slew of regulations of what is and isn't proper conduct for a player - makes football less theatrical, less dramatic and less entertaining. This is why the shirt-removal thing got established as a yellow card offence. The authorities thought such wanton displays of celebration would incite and antagonise opposition fans. See, that's how those few mad fans can spoil the football spectacle.
The mental reactions of this few have become the standard by which all of us are judged. The culture and laws of the game are shaped around that minority and spoil it for the rest of us more emotionally stable grown-ups who can't be fomented into a rioting mob by an athletic man in sportswear.
This isn't an anti-Arsenal critique; I'm sure similar scenes would have happened at most clubs in the same circumstances, which makes it all the more depressing.
I love seeing players giving stick back to fans. As a neutral, I just love the spectacle of it.
Players are far too respectful to fans that pelt them with abuse who use the excuse that they've paid their money so that gives them carte blanche to say anything they damn well like.
It works both ways - if you dish it out, be prepared to take it some back. Don't start whining when a player has the bollocks to say f**k you. It takes bollocks for a start and they're only human, regardless of their wealth. It should be allowed. Deal with it like an adult. Don't kick off and start calling for him to be banned.
Those who want to invade the pitch and beat the player, the steward, the ball boy or even themselves up, need to be told it's just football, it's really not war. Adebayor is not invading your home and savaging your family. He's just a footballer for god's sake. Get a perspective.
But it didn't stop there. The Van Persie statement about the Adebayor 'stamp' also smacked of the modern culture of the whiney, wimpy, pathetic pussyfication. Christ man, if you really think that someone who possibly doesn't like you isn't going to give you a kick and ginger you up a bit occasionally when the chance arises, such as after a stiff tackle, then you don't want to play football really. You want to play a less confrontational, less physical sport. Whining on about how it was near your eye. Please, if it's all too worrying for you, feel free to retire at any time Robin.
We don't have to condone the injury or the intent to feel sickened by Van Persie's wussyness.
It's not as if Van Persie is a saint himself; has never done anything wrong, has never kicked anyone, never led with an elbow. To come out and make a statement boo-hooing about it was so self-regarding and moralistic. Classic pussyficator behaviour, that.
Such a statement, seemingly written and endorsed by the club, would never have been made until relatively recently. I couldn't imagine Steve Bould or Tony Adams issuing such a pitiful set of words. The grievance would, instead, have been stored up for the next game and an 'accidental' elbow to the throat would have evened the score, or it would be dismissed as all just part of the nature of the game. You give a bit, you take a bit.
It really wouldn't surprise me if Van Persie ran to a lawyer and tried to sue Adebayor for assault or mental cruelty. The game is going that way with these sappy, drippy players and the fans that adopt similar attitudes are no better.
All of this will keep football's social workers busy this week, watching videos in slow motion, weighing up who did what to whom and why and then dishing out fines and suspensions, delighting in the officiousness of the whole affair; all of waste of time, all making football less of a spectacle. All prime examples of pussyfication.
Far from Adebayor's behaviour being unacceptable, it was and is the hysterical reaction to it that truly deserves our contempt.
Fans, Not Adebayor Deserve Contempt
Now let's hear what you've got to say about this item... or anything else happening in the world of football. Send in your opinions, rants, praise or abuse to: theeditor@football365.com
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Your Comments
Kiraldo
"Good point Aberdeen. I particularly like the way John seems to refer to these fans as sub human because of their reactions to Adebayor's blatant attempts to wind them up for the entire game.
Lee Dixon said he was fuming before kick off watching Adebayor swan around in the Arsenal half before the kick off. I'd love to have seen what a player like Adams or Keown would have done to Adebayor in the exact same circumstances. I'm betting Keown, Adams, Vieira, Flamini among others probably would not act their age at all. They probably wouldn't act like mature, responsible adults. I'm betting they would kick that fuc*er 6 foot up into the air to teach him some respect. You see John. Your rules don't quite cut it on the football field.
But that wouldn't be right would it. No. It would have been wrong. But, hang on. It wouldn't be pandering to 'Pussification' either. So maybe that's what was needed. A physical response to Adebayor's attitude. A good, old fashioned boot up his arse. No pussification needed. And nothing for anyone to complain about!"
aberdeen
"Turnip, Kiraldo and a few others: don't bother wasting your time trying to reason with these people. There are 2 types of people who go to the football - real fans and people who like to associated with the game. The former include people like yourselves who understand how dangerous Adebayor's celebrations were and who understand how incredibly fortunate it was that a riot did not occur. The latter includes journalists, corporates and the vast majority of people you are arguing with here on this oh-so-self-righteous website (i still read it regulary tho'). These people have never travelled regularly to football with the real fans who they refer to as brain-dead morons etc. I am sure they go to games but probably in the comfort of their 7seriesbeemer, therefore they do not understand the passion of the real fan. How many people do you go to football with that use expressions like "ape-poo", "spot on", "Only brain-dead morons would allow a bit of banter with a player to provoke them to violence", "try a bit harder next time to behave like a grown-up", "the crowds reaction was neolithic", "act responsibly, maturely and like reasonably-adjusted adults", and my personal favourite: "do you think that people in the audience at a theatre are allowed to shout obscenities at the actors during a play?".
D'ya see what I mean? - just let them get on with it."
cahullian
"It's one thing to give a bit of stick back to the fans but I sure I didn't see RVP stamp on Adebayors face. Even in games like Rugby there are things like eye gouging and dead high tackles that are forbidden not just by the associations running the show but by the players themselves. Next time you get stamped on the face Jon...lets see if you whine like a little bitch or man up and buy the guy a glass of house wine. I know for one I would be whining... BTW I love how this article has got people passionate about the topic. Love your work mate."
the_joker
"For a start I was @ the game! Seeing it on camera, without the atmosphere and passion and just watching the slow motion replay is just second rate.
Arsenal players and fans alike, were all out for Adebayor and he shut them all up single-handedly!
Why was Van Persie on the ground??..because he tried to take Adebayor out and failed.
Capiche?
As for the celebration absolute classic."
curbs_crawler
""I love seeing players giving stick back to fans. As a neutral, I just love the spectacle of it".
And that quote just about sums up this aricle - the thoughts of yet another typical plastic fan, so plastic he is "neutral"!!
Now I am not siding with those people who threw stuff, they are idiots and who are in a very small minority as well! But to those of you who watch your teams results come through on sky, or wait until MOTD and then give a small groan when you have lost; try going along to a game; try getting up at 6am on saturday, driving to Manchester and watching your team and seeing someone whose career was made whilst he played for your side, whose name was sung and cheered before he touted himself around to the highest bidder, someone who then runs 90 yards to celebrate scoring against your team right in front of you; and then criticise those fans that surged forward giving him abuse!!
You people have no idea what it is like to support, and i mean properly support, your team, week in, week out. I don't throw stuff and never will, but I do understand the passion that Adebayor's behaviour incites and that is why those celebrations are not permitted!!!
Furthermore, do any of you really think he would have done that if there were no stewards or police to stop people getting on the pitch - no, he wouldn't would he! Hence he endangered the lives of people their for his protection for no other reason than to stoke his ego. By all means celebrate when you score but you cannot do it like that, and if you don't like the rules or the stick that comes with your £180k a weeek, then f**k off and play something else or stop whining about it!
By the way, I am a season ticket holder but not at Arsenal! "
meatandoneveg
"Honestly, the way Arsenal fans are so self righteous nowadays, you'd think the days of Georgie Graham never happened. Of course, I should now be banned for saying this as it might cause a riot..."
Little_Dutch
"Big Show, yes that's exactly what I'm saying (apart from the bit about Arsenal playing behind close doors. That's an example of someone who was not there responding to hysterical media rubbish, it was by no means more than a handful of Arsenal fans who misbehaved). Tjose that threw coins, chairs etc should be banned from attending live football. They should and will be punished, so so should Adebayor. A surge was to be expected and when you were actually there and saw it, it was just a lot of people moving forwards to shout and swear at him. Not the mass pillaging yourself and the writer are making it out to be. Those that threw things stepped over the line and should be dealt with accordingly. So should Adebayor. That's EXACTLY what I'm saying. Jon Nic is saying that Adebayor is blameless and it's 100% the fault of all 3,000 Arsenal fans, which is a pretty irresponsible lie from a once good writer relying increasingly on hyperbole and faux controversy to make himself heard."
Toffee_Boy
"I must agree with John.
The point of going to a match is to enjoy it whatever happens and Ade running the length of the pitch to give it to me would have had me seething but I would have left feeling that revenge on the picth was next on my agenda.
It would have given me loads of things to talk about with my mates and rest assured that I would be calling him every name under the sun, but isn't that what makes this game the best in the world.
Remember Mourinho running up the touchline in front of the opposition fans or Rooney scoring for ManUre and holding his hands up to his ears at the Everton crowd.
It made people go balistic but man did we have stuff to talk about that week.
It made us want to go down and watch ManUre get beaten so we could point and give it back to him.
That's the point!!
Ade didn't want to leave Arsenal but he was told that he was, so for him to run down the touchline and give it back was brilliant.
Seems only fair when you hear the types of songs that are sung about him without him reacting badly.
Point and laugh is the right way to do it.
Getting all violent just shows your class and not his.
If it's violence you like go enter a cage fighting competition and stay out of the football stands.
If you dish it out be prepared to get some back."
Mikas
"For those wanting to read how this should have been written click below.
http://theworldgame.sbs.com.au/blogs/halftimeorange/wild-adebayor-has-no-case-to-answer-234987
Correct criticism at Ade for the discraceful stamp and equal criticism for the idiots in crowd."
totalfootball
"Is it my imagination or are Arsenal fans, players and manager constantly whining? I love Arsenal's attractive style of play and classy players, but surely we can have that without the whining. Why doesn't Wenger bring in a hard man like Vieira to win these games, take care of idiots like Adebayor, and then there would be no cause for whining? "
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