Aston Villa winger Marc Albrighton has revealed his hurt at being branded a "cheat" by Wolves fans following the sending-off of midfielder Karl Henry during the weekend derby clash.
Former Wolves skipper Henry was given a straight red card for kicking out at Albrighton during the second half of Villa's 3-2 win at Molineux.
But Wolves supporters booed Albrighton every time he touched the ball during the remainder of the game for his response to the actions of Henry, who must serve a three-game ban.
Albrighton said: "It (the kick) was pretty hard and it winded me. It's something I wouldn't want again.
"It hurts, definitely, when I read the papers on Sunday and Monday. It does hurt a lot, especially when people in the crowd call you a cheat when I was the victim, on the floor getting kicked.
"But that's football, part and parcel of the game these days, and you have to take the criticism thrown at you. It spurs you on to do even better when people are booing you and calling you a cheat."
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Comment from Gary: 'If this had happened on a street in Britain the punishment would have been far harsher than a red card and 3 match ban.' I agree with Gary's argument re ham acting but had someone been kicked in the street in Britain the soft headed social wallahs would have given him financial support and a free council house instead of a red card.
ALBRIGHTON: you are a goddam play acting cissy.Rolling around on the floor.You should be ashamed of yourself.FACT !!!!!
Why don't you take up netball you big pansie Albrighton. What Henry did was inexcusable. Albrighton's reaction however was another attempt to get a fellow professional sent off and it worked. Henry hardly touched him!
No 4 DavidD. Not surprising really to get a violent response to a common sense opinion. But I suppose "sense" is not as common as I thought. David you obviously have the "Who yo lookin at" mentality.
No 8 gary. Yes I agree Henry "deserved his red card" without doubt. But I am disgusted that professional players feel the need to roll about on the floor following what was very minor contact (although wrong) trying to give the impression he was in absolute agony and then when all the focus has turned to Henry he just gets up and plays the rest of the game without a problem. Like diving in the penalty area, these are actions I detest. Deliberately getting players sent off and diving should be stamped out of the game. I WOULD LOVE TO SEE THE BRUISES LEFT ON ALBRIGHTON FOLLOWING THE KICK FROM HENRY. BET THERE'S NOT A MARK ON HIM ANYWHERE.
At the end of the day a foul was committed that warranted a card regardless of the reaction from the player being fouled. Henry got his just desserts. If this had happened on a street in Britain the punishment would have been far harsher than a red card and 3 match ban. These players are in a privileged position and are role models for today's youth, they should think before they react.
No problem Mark... it was you who was kicked - not an issue he kicks out Referee see's it, only one outcome.
As for the Wolves fans they breed them tough up there, it normally it takes a slegdehammer to knock them to the ground so i guess you must accept the stick.
They would be more angry about losing Karl Henry because Wolves were controlling the game up till then and looked like the three points were their for the taking.
DavidD, blimey, you must be old, to call Boddo "son". Come on, keep it frendly, is there any need for the aggressive tone? ("If you spit at me, I'll rip ypur f@cking head off) Charming!!!!!!!!
I largely agree with BAVM, Albrighton has shown ZERO history of 'buying' free kicks through acting.
However it is possible that he saw the opportunity to turn a totally stupid act by Henry (who although not a 'cheat' to use boddo's working) is at the very least a 'thug' in the making, to the teams advantage.
Diving/acting is not new in the premier league or indeed to villa, we've had to watch Ashley Young fall over easier than Audley Harrison the last 2 seasons.
All you can do alas is shrug your shoulders and say 'thats football for ya'.
I don't like it when players try to get the ref to give a player a card or send them off. I didn't like the way Ashley Young used to do it either.
But - and it's a big BUT - there is no need for a player to kick out in revenge and that is what the ref sent Henry off for. That's his own fault. Remember Beckham's sending off for England - did he blame anyone else?
It disappoints me when any Villa player lays it on thick to make sure a player gets booked or sent off, and I'm particularly disappointed that Albrighton would do it. The fact remains, though, that Henry was bang to rights (yet again), so it's not in the same league as acting like you've been shot in the face when you haven't been touched.
As for your "almost as bad as spitting", Boddo. If you play-act when I foul you, I'll call you the tart you are. If you spit at me, I'll rip your f*cking head off. Massive difference, son.
the amount of acting and theatricals in the game now is way over the top.
i agree completely that deliberate acting and exaggeration to get another player sent off is completely unnacceptable.
who wants to watch games with a side down to 10 men?
the MOTD pundits implied it was overacting.
in this case albrighton is saying it was genuine and how can we judge whatever pain or shock he may have been in.
i havnt seen anything like this from him before - he has no form for this.
i will take his word on it.
he was holding on to henry but there is no doubt henry was sent off because the ref was right there.
One of the most disgraceful actions these days is players that act injured simply to get a fellow professional sent off. It is almost as bad as spitting at another player. The only way to stamp it out is for the player who is play acting gets a yellow card rather like diving in the penalty area - disgraceful people.
you big girls blouse albrighton.......
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