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 1 - 13 of 33

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

    Carry On Footie :-)

    From art_tidesco, on Mon 13 Oct 1:33PM

  2. Sorry Ed I think you got your geography wrong. Wembley­ is in Middlesex, outside North West London and just as­ close to Chelsea's ground as Arsenals. He was booed­ because he is an arrogant plonker, but we all mistakes.­ I still think he is a good full back though and agree­ the booing was pointless.

    From Mark A, on Mon 13 Oct 1:26PM

  3. Yahoo Sports Editors. Please start a poll -­ "Ashley Cole - To Boo or not To Boo. That is the­ Question."

    From Clint M, on Mon 13 Oct 1:08PM

  4. Is unfortunately 4 the mistake you committed (A. Cole!­ ), but the good think is England won the match but the­ guy tried. Also as mention above every one has a right­ do express his opinin Ashley Cole also has his right to­ shoose what is right for him. He played for Asenal and­ he felt as living them to join Chelsea at the time he­ fell like, Booying him will not help but he should be­ encourage and be motivated. I beleive what happen was­ not delibrate. We should all forget sentiment and help­ all our players by supporting them. Tari.

    From amidristari, on Mon 13 Oct 1:05PM

  5. 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 1:05PM

  6. If I earnt the money that Ashley Cole does and then­ play like a muppet, I could live with as much booing as­ you like!

    From Don, on Mon 13 Oct 1:05PM

  7. It aint about freedom of speech
    Do the England fans­ have a right to Boo Ashley Cole?
    Yes.
    Should England­ fans Boo Cole, or any other England player?
    No
    Lets get­ behind every player and the team will prosper.
    No good­ can come out of abusing individuals.
    We all want­ England to do well, dont we??

    From Michael S, on Mon 13 Oct 12:55PM

  8. GREAT BIG BOOOOOOOS, FREEDOM OF SPEECH MEAN ANYTHING??

    From emma_roid80, on Mon 13 Oct 12:46PM

  9. English home fans would do well to put their petty club­ allegiances to one side when supporting their national­ team. So what if the Premeirship Champions' boys­ scored 3 of the 4 goals England players scored. Just be­ thankful that England won and are on the way to­ qualifying for South Africa 2010.

    I also agree that­ the English home fans should take a leaf out of the­ book of their away fans (the hard-CORE and most­ dedicated fans who not only support their team­ whole-heartedly but also understand football a lot­ better than the 1% boo-brigade).

    Saffa & England­ fan.

    From Katherine, on Mon 13 Oct 12:29PM

  10. Boooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo­ ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo­ ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo­ ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo­ ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo­ ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo­ ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo­ ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo­ ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo­ ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo­ ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo­ ooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo­ oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo

    From ooahhcantona, on Mon 13 Oct 12:20PM

  11. First things First.
    I dont like Ashly Cole, the way he­ treated Arsenal was unaccpetable, indeed Cole embodies­ much which is wrong with the modern game.
    However I­ want england to succeed and booeing a player,­ especially after a mistake will not help the individual­ or the team.
    We should get behind any player wearing an­ England shirt, after all there is plenty of opportunity­ to give cole the stick he deserves every saturday in­ the premiership.
    Lets get behind anybody wearing the­ three lions, were the best fans in the world and can be­ a huge asset to the team, this sort of abuse is not­ needed, and certanly not deserved after one miskake.­ Despite my personal feelings towards cole, he is one of­ the best full backs in the world, and were lucky to­ have him in the England team, so lets supoport him and­ everyone else lucky enough to represent our beloved­ country!!
    COME ON ENGLAND!!!!!!

    From Michael S, on Mon 13 Oct 12:18PM

  12. Rubbish

    From obrien p, on Mon 13 Oct 12:15PM

  13. First off, yes the other European countries boo bone­ headed plays and bone headed players. Yes it is a free­ country, and personal loyalties aside, people DO have­ the right to express their opinions. Support for the­ team was/is high. And at the time of Cole's gaff­ the support was subdued, but massive. Ashley needs to­ nut up. His captain and mates support him. That should­ suffice. He can stay home and nurse his bruised­ hammy/ego.

    From Richard K, on Mon 13 Oct 12:15PM
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