Football lands in the cuckoo’s nest

Feb 7 2010 by Neil Farrington, Sunday Sun

And remember, we are not role models – and not guaranteed to attract abuse before and throughout the biggest few weeks of our careers, as will now surely happen to Terry in South Africa this summer.

But then, the England captaincy is an honour lost on an England captain who seems to routinely abuse privileges.

Proof as much lies in his refusal to stand down, let alone do the really decent thing à la Tiger Woods – ie, say sorry and sod off.

With his background, not to mention the headlines his parents have attracted in recent months, Terry was less an England captain than an emblem for chav Britain.

A born leader? I don’t recall reading about Alexander the Great sleeping with the wives of his men. (Alexander the Great was gay, Ed).

Talking of taking responsibility for your actions, I’m no apologist for football hooligans.

But I couldn’t help thinking of Terry’s arrogance and Etherington’s good fortune when I heard of those Sunderland supporters facing charges over the trouble at Newcastle Central Station one Saturday night last August.

I don’t hear any questions being asked about their situation, just moral judgements – or pre-judgements – being made.

To recap, there was bother after Sunderland fans disembarked a train on the way back from a pre-season friendly at Hearts. A group of Newcastle fans arrived, clearly intent on provoking trouble, and hinting at what our Stone Island-clad friends would refer to as a “pre-arranged meet”.

And I’m not naive enough to think that there were a few from Wearside more than willing to make their acquaintance.

But what will be made in court of the even stronger hint that the vast majority of Sunderland fans concerned were NOT planning on trouble in enemy territory?

That hint being a station announcement at Edinburgh which told them that the destination of the train in question was not Newcastle, but Sunderland.

Will the court ask the rail authorities, and Northumbria Police, why that train terminated on Tyneside to be met by a huge police presence?

Remember, the fans in the dock risk life bans from football grounds, losing their jobs and, in some cases, face jail.

So too any England supporters who step out of line this summer.

Terry, meanwhile, could retire tomorrow and never have to work again.

Etherington, now he can afford to stop chasing his losses at the bookies, wouldn’t be badly off either.

So write those fans off as scum if you will, but not while excusing the excesses of the footballers whose wages they pay.

To do so would be madness, and we’ve had quite enough of that this week.