Funny business, footballers and morality. One moment they’re all taking part in mawkish self-congratulatory breast-beating, first over Gary Speed, now over poor Fabrice Muamba. The next, it’s back to childishness and sharp practice. Here’s Balotelli and Kolarov bickering over a free kick; there are Liverpool’s Carroll diving and swearing at his bench and Reina shaping up to headbutt, and then Newcastle’s untouched defender going down as if hit by a sniper.
How do professionals do this to each other week in, week out? It’s baffling and insulting. Kenny Dalglish’s reaction to the sort of behaviour that would make a reception class at an inner city primary feel ashamed was to say that it showed that his players don’t ‘enjoy losing’. That’s grown-up. The elegantly suited and corporate-minded gentlemen of the Fenway Sports Group might want a word soon.
Meanwhile the Times letters page is an arena where the price of meths, the fitness of the Queen and ovations for Maria Callas can all rub shoulders, so it’s no surprise that the paper hosted a fascinating mini-debate the other day on the state of modern rugby.
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