Footballers make out with their shirts for the wrong reasons
In a weekend dominated sackings and surprise appointments, the ill-conceived actions of Wayne Rooney and Joey Barton cannot be overlooked.
After the Manchester Utd striker received a yellow card on Saturday, he thought the best response would be to goad the supporters of the club with whom he spent the first eight years of his career. Why? F*ck them, that’s why. Instead of claiming his 100th club goal at the place where it all started, the striker subjected himself to a barrage of abuse and an impromptu substitution.
If Rooney’s actions were poorly thought out, then Joey Barton’s were even more despicable. Just days after the vile criminal promised to become a role model, he simply couldn’t help himself when given the opportunity to intentionally rile up Sunderland fans. The result - an eruption of crowd violence and a leopard who clearly cannot change his spots.
Kissing the badge of your club used be an act of celebration, and a gesture of appreciation, passion and honour for representing a club. Using it as a means to wind up rival supporters is neither sporting nor resposible.
This weekend has given us two prime examples of hate-fuelled crest smooching, but The Spoiler has also noticed an emerging trend of ‘mercenary badge kissing’. Remember when Emmanuel Adebayor was feeling the heat for a rumoured transfer to AC Milan? He was kissing more fervently than Jermain Defoe in a nightclub. And let’s not forget Frank Lampard, who frequently kisses his shirt, his wristbands and just about anything else to show how committed he is to receiving £120,000 per week.
Have you seen any other players kissing their badges for the wrong reasons? Let us know with a comment below.
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17 responses so far
1 Tony // Oct 27, 2008 at 11:04 am
What about players scoring a goal against their former club? disgusting don’t you think? riling the fans like that-there should be repercussions if they score against a former club-after all we can’t upset the fans can we?
By the way, Barton kissed his badge AFTER being pelted with missiles so his actions didn’t spark the trouble-give the guy a break-he’s done his time.
2 charleysurf // Oct 27, 2008 at 11:07 am
There’s nothing wrong with a show of emotion from either the crowd or the players.
Football would be in a sorry state without the likes of Rooney.
3 number7 // Oct 27, 2008 at 11:10 am
He’s only human FFS. If thousands of gimps spent spent their afternoon calling me a fat little knob head and abusing me, you would not be able to tolerate it.
4 Reinhold Messner // Oct 27, 2008 at 11:34 am
Barton kissed his badge before the trouble started, and he didn’t have to train so near the Sunderland fans. he was deliberately trying to annoy the fans and that’s ridiculous for somone in his position.
As for Rooney, he has just shown his sheer lack of brains.
It’s great to show passion, but this aint the right way to do it.
5 Upminster Iron // Oct 27, 2008 at 11:50 am
As much as I hate when Lampard does it against us, it’s slightly better to do it after scoring because at least then you have a right to gloat, unlike Rooney. He can moan about his hometown fans turning on him but he brought it on himself by wearing the “once a blue, always a blue” shirt - if he hadn’t done that then the hatred wouldn’t be so bad.
6 Jonnas // Oct 27, 2008 at 11:54 am
Well even if he did kiss the badge before the “trouble” started, the Sunderland fans still should not have thrown objects at him, regardless of what he has done in the past, there actions were still wrong and excuses should not be made for them!
7 Euan Kerr // Oct 27, 2008 at 12:08 pm
Reinhold Messner - why would kissing a badge cause Sunderland fans to behave like cretins? Why blame the player. he kissed it after the abuse he received, and even by Roy Keane’s admission Barton had nowhere else to warm up. Fans need to grow up and take responsibility for their own actions. Don’t blame the players or even the ignorant writers who stir up trouble. Badge kissing isn’t exactly a criminal offence, why take it so seriously?
8 big jill // Oct 27, 2008 at 1:15 pm
why did barton kiss the badge anyway. what’s his devotion to newcastle all about - only kinnear and keegan liked him there. The owner wanted him sold and the fans are embarrassed to have him. ‘Served his time’?! He hasnt served anything like enough time - and the first thing he does when he gets out/off a suspension is attempt to incite a riot. FA should do the right thing and ban him for a season or two while he grows up.
9 Ronald Cristian // Oct 27, 2008 at 1:32 pm
Indefense of Barton and Rooney, Im sure that the vitriolic abuse they receive from these so called fans is exactly the same week in week out…cant blame either of them for wanting to wind someone up…the fans are doing exactly the same and when they react in a way that they know the fans will hate, we condemn them…!!!
Lets point out the the moronic fans as well…shitty Everton fans cant even fill their own stadium!!
10 redMist // Oct 27, 2008 at 1:44 pm
Poor barton - all that abuse! What abuse. barton and rooney are supposed to be professional, they ought to be able to deal with small niggles from fans. They shoudl be hapy they’ve never got any real abuse like Sol Cmpbell at the mouths of spurs
11 Ronald Cristian // Oct 27, 2008 at 3:07 pm
As a current pro, I know for a fact that the “small niggles” are not actually that small… Its quite upsetting and strange hearing a middle aged woman scream abuse at you whilst takig a corner and telling you that your children “take it up the arse”..I can see you’re one of these types…
12 redMist // Oct 27, 2008 at 3:20 pm
Hang on a minute, Ronald Cristian. Cristian Ronald. Cristiano Ronald. Cristiano Ronaldo. You are a cunning devil. I now bow down to your superior knowledge of fan abuse. I don’t think we’ll be seeing you kissing your badge anytime soon, and good on your for it.
13 Ronald Cristian // Oct 27, 2008 at 3:35 pm
lol, I wish I had his contract. you may rise from your bowed position and see it from both positions….
14 Upminster Iron // Oct 27, 2008 at 3:44 pm
Ronald, are you a footballer? If so are you will to say who you play for?
15 Ronald Cristian // Oct 28, 2008 at 9:59 am
not a chance. Anonymity is king.
16 Upminster Iron // Oct 28, 2008 at 10:09 am
I reckon ‘king’ is a clue and you are Accrington’s Chris King. Am I close?
17 Ronald Cristian // Oct 28, 2008 at 10:46 am
Further north. And no more clues.