World Cup qual. - Booing Cole is unacceptable

Eurosport - Mon, 13 Oct 17:08:00 2008

Much has been made of sectors of England's support booing Ashley Cole after he made a mistake in England's 5-1 win over Kazakhstan at Wembley.

2008 England-Kazakhstan Ashley Cole - 0

England's coach Fabio Capello, the day's captain Rio Ferdinand, the unofficial supporters' club representative and even the normally reticent FA all criticised the actions of what was a vocal minority of fans.

Plenty have given their views on the matter, with a surprising number of Yahoo! posters backing the right of fans to boo their own players if they play badly. And some of our readers have pointed out that with Ashley Cole it is personal, because of his actions on and off the pitch and because of his bitter departure from Arsenal to rivals Chelsea.

Wembley is in North London, where Chelsea's name is generally mud and Cole's is close to blasphemous. Witnesses claimed that most of the booing came from Arsenal fans, presumably the same ones that booed Frank Lampard during the 1-1 draw with Brazil in the new Wembley's England opener.

Club and country concerns aside, there is one thing that is certain. This is a free country, and everyone has the right to publicly express their opinions and frustrations within what is considered legally acceptable.

However, England's fans must decide what is more important: the success of our national game, or petty club disputes and tabloid tittle-tattle?

Given the criticism of the so-called exclusion of home-grown talent by foreign players, coaches and owners - and the pressure on England to win every tournament - it is safe to assume that when the players pull on the Three Lions, most England fans would plump for the former.

And this is where a clear decision has to be made. England fans cannot boo their own players during a match, win, lose or draw. Afterwards, perhaps. But the margin between success and failure is tiny at the highest level, to such an extent that sports psychologists are employed by clubs and national teams and 'mental strength' is considered almost as important as technical ability when coaches select a winning team.

Therefore, the value of home advantage is crucial. Why are teams expected to win at home yet struggle away? It is not because the air is cleaner at home, because the pitches are tidier, because a mother's love is closer or because the referees are more sympathetic. It is because home support acts as the mythical 12th man.

Passionate, unswerving backing motivates the players, spurs them on to attack and - in times of crisis - forms a shield against the most perilous opponents. And it should be unconditional, as England's remarkable away fans prove every time they spend a month's wages to cheer their side without fail.

Now that they mostly behave themselves, England's away fans are beyond reproach and our home fans must look to the true, die-hard, dedicated supporters who make genuine sacrifices to follow their country.

When a player makes a mistake, or misses an opportunity, the fans must bring him back up again: when an opponent lines up to take a penalty, or free-kick, makes a foul, or commits an error himself, the fans must hiss and jeer his every move.

Should Wembley be a library, a gladiatorial arena where heroes fall as the fickle drop a thumb at every misplaced pass? Or should it, like everywhere else England have to play, be an intimidating cauldron feared by opponents and brimming with confident, swaggering matadors feeding off the atmosphere to slay their enemies?

Do the Germans, Italians, Croats, Turks, Russians, Spaniards, Nigerians, Greeks, Danes, Ivorians, Swedes, Serbs, Iranians, Portuguese and even Scots boo their own players in home games? Does the fact that England is (was?) a rich country - which is why ticket prices are higher and players more handsomely rewarded - give us the right to fold our arms, demand entertainment and blame the tabloid press when the team fails?

The choice is yours. This is football, not a West End musical.

Reda Maher / Eurosport

Comment 14 - 33 of 33

Sort comments by: Most recent

  1. everyone should boo cashly,as he is a @#$% left back and a greedy b*****d too

    From wendy411@..., on Tue 14 Oct 9:05AM

  2. I get the point, because of the Arsenal - Chelsea things....that's why some fans was booing the guy...I agree...but remember....this is international game, please put that aside and support the team. It may cause a team panic and lose the game. We can tell the team more comfortable to play away than at home.

    From brandon78le, on Tue 14 Oct 8:11AM

  3. 5-1 still not happy? come on England. Football is comin back home so embrace it people and support the team...

    From Skippo, on Mon 13 Oct 11:19PM

  4. im sorry but the fans have a right to express their opinions in France if they believe the team is playing badly they kill the players so what is wrong with fans booing someone who has played poor the whole match and then gets an assist for the other team. If I was Capello I would have taken him off before he did more damage. If he is going to be the number 1 choice for Capello he needs to show that he is worth that choce and atm he hasnt and so I hope his 'hamstring complaint' lasts for the rest of his career or until he can actually put the 3 lions on with pride, until then Shorey or Bridge will more then surfice

    From debers7, on Mon 13 Oct 7:54PM

  5. ALL ENGLISH FOOTBALL
    PREMIER LEAGUE – FA CUP – CARLING CUP
    CHAMPIONS LEAGUE – UEFA CUP
    ALL MATCHES ON WEB: PREMIER LEAGUE, LIGA, SERIE A, BUNDESLIGA AND CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - UEFA CUP
    ALL THE HIGHLIGHTS OF PREMIER LEAGUE MATCHES

    From , on Mon 13 Oct 6:09PM

  6. You get a scoreline of 5-1 and still feel the need to boo.....strange people!

    From snapjackal, on Mon 13 Oct 6:03PM

  7. why boo him at all, what he does in his private life is his buisiness, he plays for england so we should support him. im not a football fan, but that is just childish behaviour. support our team.

    From nedwof, on Mon 13 Oct 6:02PM

  8. there is nothing wrong to boo cole as long the english fans don't kill the poor chap the next time he makes another mistake,the english fans almost lynched david beckham many years ago when he was kicked out from an international match that caused england the elimination of the tournament............

    From dante, on Mon 13 Oct 5:57PM

  9. there is nothing wrong to boo cole as long the english fans don't kill the poor chap the next time he makes another mistake,the english fans almost lynched david beckham many years ago when he was kicked out from an international match that caused england the elimination of the tournament............

    From dante, on Mon 13 Oct 5:56PM

  10. 22 ENGLAND TO WIN THE WORLD CUP COME OFF IT QTR FINALS AT BEST

    From U R SOLES, on Mon 13 Oct 5:00PM

  11. if the england fans dont like the chelsea players fine drop them all it saves chelsea suffering every time one of them is injured playing for england or for that matter any other country as well who gives a s*** about international football anyhow it just encourages racests to have a go at other countrys i watch every chelsea game & as many other games as i can from any of the 4 divisions but i cant remember when i last botherd to watch the whole of a international game & cant say when or if i will ever bother again even the highlights are not worth the effort of watching most of the time.
    INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL RIP

    From U R SOLES, on Mon 13 Oct 4:54PM

  12. rr1bo1

    @#$% URE SELF

    ENGLAND TO WIN THE WORLD CUP
    COME ON CAPELLPO

    From haidar.javed, on Mon 13 Oct 4:06PM

  13. COME ON ENGLAND

    From haidar.javed, on Mon 13 Oct 4:05PM

  14. Sure is completely fair to boo CASHLY, he's a piece of @#$% traitor. Gunners for life!

    From rr1bo1, on Mon 13 Oct 3:36PM

  15. I can see how people believe that booing Cole doesn't help the team but come on... at 2-1 up are we really going to let the Kazaks back in the game? It was just a matter of time before we got the 3rd and I think our supporters had the right to vent their fustration with goal. It's true that they probably booed because of his personality and not the errant pass... he's a @#$% er... FACT. He's still a good left back don't get me wrong but I personally would like to see Bridge given a chance. Cole's too selfish and although he's got a good attacking sense, he can't defend for his life. Found out of position on numerous occasions. Give bridge a chance... quality DEFENDER.

    From rr1bo1, on Mon 13 Oct 2:50PM

  16. While I think supporters who have paid good money CAN boo bad play, I also think they shouldn't because that won't help us win. However I was forced to listen to Alan Green on the radio at the time of the incident and he felt it was OK for him to slag him for the back pass, on air, to thousands more than were at Wembley, when he gets paid his £20 LOL plus plane to get him there (FREE) to watch the match, all be it thankfully a small part, but to then go onto 606 and call the fans morons for booing takes the Pi** in my opinion.
    Ymmas9117

    From sam s, on Mon 13 Oct 2:50PM

  17. He's a @#$%, boo him even more.

    From VT5060, on Mon 13 Oct 2:27PM

  18. I dont think anybody booed cole because of the mistake, the fact is that cole is a @#$% person, hes greedy, selfish and has a poor attitude and the fact that he earns shed loads of cash is just another side factor. Look at the top footballers in the prem like Gerrard, Lampard, Owen, J Cole, if they make a mistake we dont boo them because are genuin good people. If you dont want the fans to boo you poor ashley then dont flaunt yourself around acting like a total @#$%.

    From www.wildmanfishing.com, on Mon 13 Oct 2:23PM

  19. Ashley Cole humbled by his own hubris :-)

    From art_tidesco, on Mon 13 Oct 1:34PM

  20. Ashley Cole humbled by his own hubris :-)

    From art_tidesco, on Mon 13 Oct 1:34PM
Sort comments by: Most recent

Not already a Yahoo! user ? to get a free Yahoo! Account