I am disgusted by what is happening in the Ukraine and Poland and their abuse of minorities. I totally support anything we do to highlight that and support anything the authorities could do to bring these people to order. Let's just have all sporting competitions in future between Sweden and Switzerland then. Who on EARTH do we think we are? Those of us old enough to remember the 1980 and 1984 Olympics being badly affected by political grandstanding will tell you there's a world of difference between RIGHTLY using a sporting ban against the old SA regime for practising apartheid in sport and every country in the world using sport as an arena to further their own geo-political ambitions and prejudices. England SHOULD be banned for this political interference from its government.
Clearly a fake one. The L's and E's in the writing are perfectly the same. It's typewritten rather than handwritten. EDIT: Just realised that you were clearly aware of this
Again Page, I would agree with you and in fact they DO have it currently in their contracts about bringing the image of the national team into disrepute. He could have been removed from the squad entirely long ago. But then going down that moral rather than legal route: so should Rio have ever been allowed back?(repeatedly missing drug tests to the point of ban?), Gazza should never have been allowed near the team on moral grounds(drunkard/ wife beater?). Rooney engaged in illegal activity (prostitution) etc etc. Gerrard was at one point charged with an offence: should he have been banned or was he just lucky timing wise with no conflict between court dates & tournaments? We have to play a consistent line regarding justice ESPECIALLY when it's with someone we don't like. I would love to enforce a high moral code of conduct on our national players. I think it can be written into the contracts very very easily but we'd have to be prepared to stand up & insist it's upheld when it's one of our favourites not just when it's someone we hate. It's a form of entertainment to us. It's these players jobs. And while representing their country should be an honour it's currently not, that isn't the players fault: it's the FA's for marginalising national for club money.
We laud a whole range of ****ers in this country simply cos they are good at football ... it is this that has led to this situation and it will happen again. Ashley Cole shot a work experience student with an air rifle at the chelsea training ground and is in the squad and praised as a great player. Schmicael (excuse spelling) was reported for dishing racially abuse to Ian Wright yet is considered a United Great. Barton stubbed a cigar in a reserve team players eye and is kept on cos he was a rising star. Tony Adams is an arsenal legend yet only luck stopped him killing someone when he was pissed driving. Gazza beat up his wife but still played for England ... It was being caught eating a burger that killed his England career! Ferdinand 'forgot' to take a drug test and actually complains when he is punished. The list is endless... Lee Bowyer, Jonathan Woodgate, Lee Hughes, the Keeper who is about to be released and taken on by another club... Fans players and managers defend their own teams players cos if a player is good on the pitch every thing is forgiveable. I love the distraction and entertainment I get by supporting spurs but I have no doubts that my club will never see the likes of Perryman, Jennings, Mabbutt, Blancheflower etc. again...money has changed everything in football in this respect.
I get your point. In an ideal world it would be all sports and no interference from political groups (whether governmental or non governmental). But let's be real about this. This is a prestigious tournament and the reasons for Ukraine and Poland to have bid and been accepted as hosts have been political and economic. Political because it involved lobbying from governments and give kudos and popularity to the ruling parties in government. Economical as they get widespread TV coverage, increasing tourism. increasing revenue and income from TV, hotels etc etc. UEFA giving the tournament to these countries had to make sure or at least get some assurance that the teams who participate and non- white vistiors would be safe and won't be racially abused. It is not looking good as already we have had the Dutch team complaining that they had been racially abused at their recent training session (people making monkey noises whenever their black players go near a section of the crowd). Some people may think it is not a big deal and should put up with it but would THEY be happy if they were picked on just because of the colour of their skin? Some European (including the UK) governments are boycotting the group stages to make a point about their unhappiness with the treatment of one of the political prisoners in Ukraine. They are politicians and are making a political point to the host government. Yes it should not have come to this but as I said earlier in real life, high level sports will always be mixed with politics.
