RESPECT: One Man’s Cheat is Another Man’s Hero

Thierry Henry may have erred in his position as a protector of fair play, but should supporters take a look at themselves before judging?

The Irish continue to act with as much dignity and pride as they possibly can.  As shouts of ‘fix’ continue to echo, the world keeps spinning and Ireland’s great nation continues to be at the heart at one of the biggest injustices in the world today.

But that is enough about ‘Jedward’s’ ongoing survival on The X Factor. There is a bigger issue at large today, and that of course is Thierry Henry’s handball that ended Ireland’s dream of reaching next year’s World Cup in South Africa.

Henry, once a great ambassador, not just for Arsenal, but the Premier League and world football, has seen his status tumble overnight.  The joke emails and mocked up photographs were quickly doing the rounds, and he has only himself to blame for that.  In that brief moment he decided that glory must come before fair play.  That was his decision and he will live with that.

Yet as football supporters around the globe spoke out at how the incident had ruined the integrity of the game, there were some refreshingly honest points of view.  Two quotes in particular caught my eye, both, interestingly from former Ireland internationals.

First Ronnie Whelan announced: “We’d all do it if we could get away with it.”  His view was endorsed by Andy Townsend who said: “You do anything you can to win, cheating is part and parcel of football.”  And in that line alone lies the final nail in the ‘Respect’ campaign’s coffin.  While I appreciate the honesty of Townsend and Whelan, it worries me more that two players, who know what it is like to play at the top level in football, take this attitude.  But they are players and one can only assume that the pressures of the modern game, with so much money involved, drive them towards the ‘win at all costs’ mentality.

But what about the people who pay to watch the game?  Surely, we want to see a contest played out fairly without diving, sneaky handballs or ‘phantom’ goals? Apparently not.

I asked 25 English football supporters this week whether they could bring themselves to celebrate England winning the World Cup, were, say Rooney, to dive in the 93rd minute of the final against Germany to secure a one nil win from the penalty spot.  Only five people said they would be too embarrassed to celebrate, and even they had to think about it.  For the remaining 20, it was a no-brainer, with the line “winning is everything these days” a common response.

My personal view is what is the point at being the best if you can’t do it without cheating.  What are you the best at?  Cheating?

Yet this proves that supporters’ attitudes towards the game are changing.  Back in the early 1960s, Chelsea supporters booed a young Ron Harris as he persistently fouled the legendary Stanley Matthews.  Would the same happen today if John Terry hacked down Wayne Rooney?  No.  It would be greeted with a resounding cheer and Rooney no doubt would be whistled and booed while he writhed in agony on the floor.

And here is my point.  It is clear that if supporters feel their own team has been cheated they will make a fuss, but if their own player cheats to help their team achieve success they will gladly take it.

If the paying supporters themselves do not subscribe to fair play, then respect is all but doomed.