Nibblegate
I am one angry Bagel today and I’m getting straight to the point. Richard Caborn, sports minister is getting involved in matters that do not concern him but as a policeman by trade, this does not surprise me one little bit. Dick, is urging the FA to get examine the video evidence of Jermain Defoe’s bite on Javier Mascherano in yesterday’s game.
The incident came after Defoe was tackled from behind by the Hammers for the umpteenth time in a game where the refereeing was confused at the very least. Funnily enough this was one occasion where Steve Bennett appeared to get it right. Mascherano was shown a yellow for his challenge and Defoe for his reaction. Case closed or so you would think but no, Caborn wants something done, believing that this behaviour should be punished as it is a bad example to children and idiot adults alike.
Regarding the incident itself, the bite although fairly foolish on the part of Defoe was entirely harmless. It is clear as day to see that there was no intent to wound or hurt in the slightest. The action was not nearly hard enough. What kind of mouth does Dick think Caborn has? What kind of danger does he think Mascherano was in apart from a deserved good shoeing as he rolled about in pain attempting to get our player sent off. This is not Jermain Defoe…
…that is Jaws and so is this…
…if Mascherano had felt either of these two on his arm, I would understand the need for the Sports Minister to get involved and the rolling around in pain. I too would want to stop clubs fielding psychotic man eating giant sharks and sociopathic serial killers but then again that never stopped Manchester United from making one their captain.
Mascherano’s actions should be as much discouraged as Defoe’s. What kind of example is it to see players cheating in efforts to get others sent off, rather than trying to win a game on one’s own merits? The real issue though is that of intent. This was not a violent act. Why can’t people and when I say people I mean, Dick, the FA and any other powers that be see this point. How can the FA not press any charges against Ben Thatcher for an incident, which was essentially GBH and then waste everybody’s time with a bit of nothing like this?
Steve Bennett dealt with it at the time fair and square. Don’t tackle from behind, don’t pretend to be hurt and don’t bite. Yellow and yellow. Ask Mascherano if he really feels that it should be taken any further.
At the end of the day if they really want to, I understand Defoe being fined but to ban him would be lunacy. What has he really done except make himself look a little childish?
So, this is the part where Dick Caborn comes in. The FA are now under pressure to be seen to be doing something. The minister for sport is obviously a fairly powerful figure and I’m sure could make things a little difficult if the FA do not appease him. Why did he bother sticking his oar in apart from being a busy? Could it be that he needs to be doing something given the debacle that is Wembley and his responsibility for it? Incidentally, did you know that the cost of the new national stadium is virtually the same as the cost to build and refurbish all the stadiums used in World Cup in Germany 2006. You are, of course, aware how delayed the project has been and we’ll all be surprised if it’s even ready for this season’s FA Cup Final. I can understand Mr. Caborn’s need to deflect a little attention away from this matter.
So, what else do we know about Caborn? Well, as I say he is a pig by trade and a good friend and supporter of John Prescott. I suppose they go hand in hand really. Here’s his head…
…with a few labels just in case you’re unsure which bit if him is which.
He was the first to jump to Prescott’s defence when the accusations of sweeteners from gambling execs came in earlier this year but the bit that really sells him for me is the way he instructed his civil servants to ‘dig up dirt’ on political comedian Mark Thomas back when Dick was in charge of the Department of Trade and Industry in order Mr. Thomas at the time when he was preparing a program on the DTI’s dodgy dealings. Another example of how to deflect the attention from one’s own incompetence, eh Dick?
The Bagel wouldn’t have too much of a problem with it if this was as far as it goes but it isn’t. Dick Caborn’s use of this incident continues up the thin end of the same wedge, which has seen yellow cards given for players removing their shirts, players celebrating with their own fans and players and managers ‘inciting’ other fans.
Football is becoming over policed and is dangerously close to a place where it becomes controlled to the point of sterility. Common sense on decisions like this biting incident are not prevailing. Football does not need these tribunals, not for bits of nothing like we saw on the pitch yesterday. No harm has been done. The only harm will take place is if people who have very little to do with the enjoyment of the game insist on trying to govern, control and legislate its every action.
Football is recognised as a very powerful industry, financially and psychologically within this nation. It has become a forum for people like Caborn to make personal gains and if he was really any good at his job or had any love for this sport, he would leave the FA and their chosen referees to deal with the matter as they have done for tens of years already. If such a nibbling took place on the street, the police would laugh in the face of anyone trying to press charges. Why should it be any different here?
Leave football alone and go make your points in the Commons or are we too worried about the questions that will be asked back?
If this hasn’t bugged the crap out of you enough. Check this out…
http://www.tottenhamtrust.com/viewnews.asp?id=342
…I’ll have some words on this just as soon as I’ve stuck my head in an ice cold bucket of water.
Aye’s to the left, bagels to the right.
The Bagel.
October 23rd, 2006 at 4:40 pm
Bagel for PM! You know it makes sense…
October 23rd, 2006 at 4:51 pm
Oh NO! .. I was french kissing Mr. Caborn just last night..! Oh god.. how horrible..! Honestly guys - I was drunk.. it was dark… i wasn’t to know..
October 23rd, 2006 at 6:12 pm
Hmmm… this Yid thing.
I’m not offended. My dads side of the family is Jewish (and Yiddish speaking at that), and I’m not even half offended.
But I suppose if I was actually to believe that a large enough number of people were offended by this, I’d have to consider not chanting it.
But I sense I’m with the bagel in as much as I don’t want to stop chanting it, and I’d find it very hard.
Moreover, I’ve never once met someone at a game or anywhere else who is actually in the least bit offended by it.
I imagine the point at which we notice that Jewish people have stopped coming to watch Tottenham is the point at which this becomes a problem. Lets keep an eye out….
Also the kind of people who hold meetings about this sort of shit are exactly the kind of people I instinctively would never listen to.
I think you’ve put up Sol Campbell’s picture by mistake.
October 23rd, 2006 at 11:51 pm
I myself am a full member of the real Yid Army and personally, I love the fact that 30,000 people stand there every weekend shouting loud and proud that they’re Yiddos, be they Jewish, Christain, Muslim or whatever.
How can it be considered a negative slur when the highest praise we offer any new player is when they score their first goal and we all christen then with shouts of ‘Yiddo, Yiddo!’
In fact, find me another place where a Muslim is proud to refer to themselves as Jewish. We at the Lane represent the only group of people onm this earth to have made any progress in solving the Middle East conflict.
Of course, were anyone to call me a Yid outside of the footballing context, I’d take a large stale loaf to their face.
It’s the way you say it. Words aren’t racist, people are and it’d be a real shame for what is essentially a very positive tradition and club cultural heritage to be ruined by people who do not understand it.
The Bagel
October 24th, 2006 at 1:02 am
Like killer chocolate its a thorny topic, but I think you’ve hit on something there. If only the people of Palestine would just embrace being Jewish. Its just a shame it never worked out with Gary Doherty or we could have sorted out another of the world’s troublespots.
I’ll move on before anyone thinks they smell a plot… Gary Doherty was the fans player of the year at Norwich last season according to wikipedia. This is the kind of information nobody is crying out to know, but it kind of warms my heart so I thought I’d share…
October 24th, 2006 at 8:28 am
Speaking of wikipedia, look up “Yid” and it says (after the main description):
“Football terminology
An exceptional non-offensive use of Yid by non-Jews is when it is by a member or supporter of English Premiership soccer team Tottenham Hotspur to refer to another fan or player on the team. ”
If Wikipedia, the people’s dictionary (not to be confused with the people’s elbow) says it’s ok, that’s good enough for me. “If you smellllll… “
October 24th, 2006 at 12:42 pm
All comments above duly noted. All I’d say in response is:
‘YID ARMY!!!’
October 24th, 2006 at 12:57 pm
Interesting, and utterly ridiculous as this point of view may seem to a non Jewish person such as me, I posed this question to a mainly Jewish group of young people who I have been teaching. Not one of them was the slightest bit bothered - One even suggested that it was a positive thing, so many Non Jews labelling themselves proudly with the ‘Yid’ moniker.
Have ANY Jewish people/groups been behind any complaints?
It seems to me that the using the term ‘Yid’ in connection with Spurs is, and has been for decades, accepted.
It is clear that people are not shy in complaining, and Racist chants/ aggressive behaviour is reported and acted upon regularly - so surely the fact that no-one has reported the ‘Yid’ chant means that the regulars understand its context, and have no problem? The chants occur at all games, home and away - no other clubs have had complaints…I think these people are trying to deal with a non existent problem, but it is probably fair to open up the debate once in a while, just to see…
October 24th, 2006 at 1:35 pm
This country and its obsession with Political Correctness drives me mad.
You wont be able to sing “Who’s the w@nker in the Black?” at Steve Bennett next, incase you upset the minorities.
October 24th, 2006 at 1:39 pm
Smart is right. I have been a member of the w@nking community all my life and find it distasteful, derogatory and downright offensive to be associated with poor refereeing.
October 24th, 2006 at 2:55 pm
Hahaha, that’d be a shame after his bizarre performance on Sunday.
The Bagel
March 10th, 2007 at 9:15 pm
I’m an die ahrd arsenal fan so i prbly shudnt even b on here. but i am jewish. my whole family is jewish. the term ‘yid’ originated from the Nazis in the holocaust n WW2 as a derogirtry word used to encourage hatred against the jews n was shouted at them in the gas chambers. it is offenefive. i have m8s hu support spurs n they r jewish. they no longer go to shit hart lane because they feel to offended and upset by the chants.
Just thought that was important to say
gooner4lyf!