World Cup qual. - To boo or not to boo?

Eurosport - Mon, 13 Oct 11:47:00 2008

Fabio Capello, Rio Ferdinand and even the FA have condemned the jeers that greeted Ashley Cole as England struggled against Kazakhstan at Wembley. But do the fans reserve the right to express their frustration?

FOOTBALL 2008 - Ashley Cole of England challenged by Sabyrkhan Ibrayev of Kazakhstan in a World Cup qualifier - 0

"I couldn't understand the crowd booing Ashley Cole after he made a mistake," a bemused Capello said afterwards. "It is possible for one player to make mistake. It is very important that the crowd help him and not boo him."

The English club game has a long tradition of fans booing their own players. There is a sense that our loyalty ought to be backed up by their exertions and sometimes success; that anything less than the proverbial 110 per cent is simply unacceptable.

On the face of it, such a stance seems honourable: after all, aren't these men paid handsomely to do what many of us fork out hundreds of pounds a year to enjoy every weekend? Isn't it the duty of the man in the stands to remind the cosseted, lucky few that they should be grateful to be out there?

"People have obviously paid their money and have every right to express their opinion," Football Supporters' Federation international co-ordinator Kevin Miles reflected.

The FA is often criticised for being out of touch with the needs of the supporters, not to mention clubs and pretty much everyone with a vested interest in the game. So what did they have to say on the subject?

"It is crazy that a section of our own supporters are booing one of our own players," read a spokesman. "That is clearly not going to help the team during the course of a game, and certainly not the individual being booed. Unfortunately, we are all aware that we have had problems of this kind since we have come back to the new Wembley."

Cole, like Chelsea team-mate Frank Lampard, seems to be someone who inspires ire in the fans of opposing clubs - and that sometimes boils over into the international arena.

If we put personal feelings aside, the debate comes down to balancing the good of the team against the wish to vent our collective spleen. Do we sit back - having paid over £50 for a ticket with the desire of seeing England win, and entertain - and watch numbly, or with good grace, as they struggle to overcome a nation ranked between Hong Kong and Singapore by FIFA? Or do we get our 'money's worth' and give 'em a piece of our mind?

The FA spokesman had this to say on the benefits of supporting the player: "Several players have said they were encouraged to see large numbers in the crowd applauding Ashley Cole to counter-balance those booing him. It is unfair on all the fans who have come to the game with the best intentions of supporting the team throughout."

And Miles: "There are two sides to it: I personally believe once the team have gone out there and are playing, fans should do what they can to try to improve or support what they are trying to do. I can't imagine a situation in which a player being booed every time he touches the ball is going to feel lifted by the experience. Clearly Ashley Cole made a mistake for their goal, but he's still got to carry on playing the rest of the game and we wanted to move forward from that rather than compound it."

There are copious incidents of this kind at club level: recently Emmanuel Adebayor was slammed by his own fans at Arsenal for what they perceived as a desperate bid during the summer to leave for a major club elsewhere in Europe.

It is important to make a distinction here between such a situation and that which occurs in the international fold. At the clubs the fans can rightly point to the fact that they help pay inflated wages through gate receipts and merchandise; when it comes to England, however, those players are playing exclusively for the honour of being selected to represent their country.

They are 'lucky', the so-called boo-boys may say, to be wearing the famous Three Lions shirt. But, as people who cannot hide their uglier emotions for 90 minutes as a fan, would they themselves put up with the abuse raining down - or would they react in the same way and give some back? It is very rare to see a player, whatever the circumstances, stooping to that level.

It is quite clear that booing does not help. What is needed is a level of understanding between player and fan, of acceptance that they are trying their best to give us what we want. Chris Iwelumo, having missed a sitter playing for Scotland against Norway - in a game that finished goalless - shed some light on the matter from the other side.

"After the miss, I couldn't believe the reaction from the fans and that just shows you what they are all about," he said. "The Ashley Cole situation is one that I can't really comprehend. If England have fans doing that, it makes no sense to me. They won 5-1 last night... they are a bunch of fantastic players and Ashley Cole is world class.

"If people are judging him on what they read in the papers, that's wrong."

The key is positive support, not restrained silence: it breeds confidence; it gives rise to a mutually beneficial relationship between those on the pitch and those watching; and it leaves the fan with a sense that they have done their bit, if nothing else.

Many football fans are like this: however they tend to be either those with little track record of success - no disrespect intended to Scotland - or those in the midst of a successful run.

As with Ferdinand before him, Adebayor has learned that all you have to do to keep irate, suspicious followers off your back is to play well. Had Cole not made a mistake, he would not have been vilified: but it is that culture, bred by over-zealous newspaper reporting hinted at by Iwelumo, that is the real culprit.

Jonathan Symcox / Eurosport

Comment 108 - 127 of 127

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  1. Sorry - last post under number 2, sentence should have read "half as much money AGAIN"... :)

    From Chas. E, on Tue 14 Oct 9:54AM

  2. What utter cobblers this all is.

    1. If you did something wrong at work, or puked in the photocopier at the staff christmas party, would you like it if people booed you every time you came into the office - and would it make you better at your job? No.

    2. If you worked at the firm that had employed you since you were 16, but were then offered a chance to go and work for another, bigger firm for half as much money and a bigger chance of rewards, would you turn it down? No.

    3. Are you stupid enough to have your opinions shaped by what you read in tabloid newspapers? Let's hope not.

    Ashley Cole is no saint - in fact frankly, it seems he is a bit of a git, in the same way as there are people of dubious character in every single walk of life (and some are posting on here, no doubt). He's also (almost certainly) the best left-back in England. For the sake of argument I'll assume the fans that booed him do actually want England to win. In what possible way do you think that picking on a player during a game helps his performance, and therefore your desire to see the team win (and play well to boot)? Personally I think Rooney is a little thug, but I also trealise he is a fantastic player, and I wouldn't dream of letting one point of view influence the other.

    And please, let's all get over this "overpaid" and "greedy" rubbish. Pure jealousy. Yes, footballers ARE overpaid, but technically that's not down to them; and 99.9% of us would take a huge pay rise if it was offered to us.

    From Chas. E, on Tue 14 Oct 9:17AM

  3. To Charlie G,
    What do you mean by "we" you bloody idiot? YOU were not playing, you were not on the field so how do you fit into the equation you @#$%?

    From sappercommando25, on Tue 14 Oct 4:49AM

  4. To SHAUN C, I suspect that this is a lack of education at every level. At the end of the day, if the game is that bland and the so called "expectations" are not met, why on earth pay to go to see the games then?
    DON'T LIKE IT, DON'T GO simple as.

    From sappercommando25, on Tue 14 Oct 4:47AM

  5. To Padjur,
    Your comment is not far from the truth however, apart from learning a little more English grammar, you should have more constructive critisms with better constructed sentences then you might look better.

    From sappercommando25, on Tue 14 Oct 4:38AM

  6. Booing Is Unacceptable..Look at the stupid comments like he deserved booing because he cheated his wife, what does that have to do with football...When will the public learn to mind their business.. For comments like he left arsenal for Chelsea because of money (like you wouldn't do the same) its getting old...Its stunning how everyone pretends they don't like tons of money... Just because the players are highly paid doesn't mean you have the right to boo them.. That is ignorance personified.... Yes Ashley cole mistake was mind boggling but what do you hope to achieve by booing him... And wat about comments like he is a obnoxious twit, a useless idiot...C'mon none of you know him personally..I think all those magazines have decieved you....LOl...seriously...Wake Up...You dont Know this players simply because you read some stupid headline...Anyway Keep it real guys...Lets Just Enjoy the Sport and forget all this rubbish & politics....

    From Jennie, on Mon 13 Oct 7:30PM

  7. I think we should boo everybody that plays for England. That way we can give the opposition more of a chance to win which is a good thing if you are a thick English moron !! Please grow up soon.

    From webisan1, on Mon 13 Oct 6:37PM

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    From , on Mon 13 Oct 6:14PM

  9. i suspect that those who boo are childish west ham liverpool man u & arsenal fans that just cant take it that chelsea are better than they are look out man city youre players will be next

    From U R SOLES, on Mon 13 Oct 4:35PM

  10. Booing Ashley Cole is unacceptable but booing Frank Lampard is Ok. Why is the media trying to turn this in to a racial thing, the fans booed him because he did a @#$% pass plus they don't like him for cheating on his wife and leaving arsenal for more money, yet the media is saying don't boo him because he's black!

    From Parrot, on Mon 13 Oct 1:18PM

  11. The obnoxious Cole deserves all he gets. What kind of role model is he for young kids? Hopefully they will see him as as the ignorant lout he is. He has done us all a favour by suddenly becoming injured, hopefully it will last a long time.

    From nigelwood915@..., on Mon 13 Oct 12:14PM

  12. Yahoo Sport Editors. Please start a poll "Cole - To Boo or Not To Boo. That is the Question"

    From Clint M, on Mon 13 Oct 12:10PM

  13. Hang on Eurosport. We didn't 'struggle' to beat Kazakhstan, as you put it. We thrashed them 5 - 1. It was already 2 - 1 by the time the booing got started.

    From Charlie G, on Mon 13 Oct 11:27AM

  14. Indirectly we,the paying public,contribute to the ludicrous wages these over-protected prima donnas earn.
    If I,(or anyone else performing a "real" job),screws up at work,I get a bollocking or dismissal.
    Yet we are seemingly not allowed to voice an opinion when some obnoxious excuse for a human being plkays like a Sunday league pub player.
    Priceless.

    From deborahwest6@..., on Mon 13 Oct 10:46AM

  15. every football fan as a right to boo @#$%.the manager should pick players like david beckham who would die for his country.and who said gerard was world class he is @#$% also. why do managers past and presant always pick the so called superstars the best manager england ever had was sir alf ramsey who did not care who picked or droped.if you think back he droped one jimmy greaves.we need amanager like that again artie57

    From arthur2home, on Mon 13 Oct 10:22AM

  16. Opinions are everyones entitlement cos this is a country with freedom of speech. Personally I do not go to England games, but in the comfort of my home, I can scream and yell at players who are not performing....but thats hurting nobody.....Not sure if the booing of fans does anything, as at club level, these same players have learnt to ignore all and block out all thats thrown at them by fans, and I would expect them to do so at International level too. Rightly or wrongly,they surely balance up the advantages of being paid enormous sums for what they do, and with the lifestyle that affords them. I am sure they can cope with the boos, or rants from any fans, cos at the end of the day, the players get the last laugh just checking their bank accounts!!

    From kpb, on Mon 13 Oct 9:25AM

  17. So the PC brigade are embarrassed by passionate football fans who happen to care about the game and winning? They should stick to watching netball.... Football is about winning... and we the fans pay lots of money for our teams to win. We buy Sky subscriptions, merchandise and match tickets, all of which pays the mercenary players wages.... This is a free country and if the FA, PC fans or the players get upset maybe they should make more of an effort... how much does Cole get paid? over £100k a week? poor baby...... for that money he shouldnt make any mistakes... but he's cr*p anyway...

    From Keith R, on Mon 13 Oct 9:08AM

  18. Cole is like so many of todays footballers... he's an overpaid mercenary. I know his wages are probably funded by Sky and the club owner, but without the fans ultimately paying the price does he think Roman or Sky would continue to pay all that money? no.. he should remember his wage packet is down to the fans of his club and country, so why doesnt he show some respect? he's a useless tw*t anyway....

    From Keith R, on Mon 13 Oct 9:04AM

  19. Ahh poor old Cashley Cole. Was the booing for the mistake he made or was it just people expressing the hatred they have for this so called man. He left Arsenal following deceitful meetings and for nothing more than a shed load of money. He and his sour faced wife keep cropping up saying how hard life is being famous. He then proceeds to shack up with some old tart, just because he is famous and he can. I say he should be booed every week just for being the obnoxious little git he really is.

    From Kelly, on Mon 13 Oct 9:00AM

  20. The fans have a right to boo, the pay the wages and if overpaid and vastly overrated player like Cole and Lampard can't take they should give up football and try some real work!

    From ukbuyer, on Mon 13 Oct 8:59AM
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