Driving home from Villa Park last saturday I listened, for the first time in around 2 years, to BBC Radio 5 Live's evening football debate show 606. Presenter Mark Chapman was joined by regular co-host Robbie Savage as fans phone the show to try to spark debate or give there 2 cents on the days football.
Over the years a number of “famous faces” have presented the show including David Mellor and DJ Spoony, but I have never heard of a current player (Savage still earns a living at Derby County FC) hosting or co-hosting the show. After 50 minutes I switched off my radio, horrified with what I was listening to.
The topic of debate had turned to the subject of respecting referees, one which many of the callers questioned Savage about, asking the Derby man if he thought his abusive behaviour and aggressive confrontations with referees week in week out was setting a good example for kids playing on sunday mornings across the country. Savage, rather then accepting any responsibility or showing any remorse for his actions and how destructive they are to the way the game is played through all levels tried to instead, bully his way out of the awkward series of questions, eventually becoming so aggressive in his pleads of innocence that many callers gave up trying to get a real answer from the man.
When a father sees his son emulating the aggressive attitude that players up and down the professional game take towards referees must be heartbreaking. Young players are now seeing so many stars (not just Savage) act with such little respect towards the man in black that they see it as appropriate to do so in their matches. Responsibility must fall on the heads of the professionals who sometimes turned the beautiful game, into a very ugly one.
But players have no reason to accept responsibility because there is no one holding them accountable to their actions. Last week saw Wayne Rooney blatantly elbow a fellow player in the face but still there have been no repercussions for his action. Ashley Cole took a air gun into training and accidentally shot a 21 year old work experience student. In any job around the world that sort of action would get you fired and possibly arrested, instead Chelsea are handling the matter internally and have so far find Cole just two weeks wages.
Even managers are out of control. The Scenes after the Celtic Rangers match on thursday night were embarrassing to watch. Seeing a two managers unable to shake hands and walk away after a match and instead try and have a bar room style brawl in the middle of the pitch is embarrassing and show total disrespect to the game. Yet no action has been taken against either of the protagonists.
The FA says it tries to promote respect, tries to portray the game in a light that fans both young and old can be proud to look up to. But with these sorts misdemeanours going unpunished young players cant be reprimanded for thinking that this sort of action is ok. Players and managers are getting out of control something has to be done to ensure they respect the officials, one another and the game itself, before the game we love is lost in a sea of childish behaviour.
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