Ok folks, I know Soccer is a gentlemen’s game, but I really need you to follow my logic here.
Manchester City‘s Emmanuel Adebayor was charged with improper conduct after celebrating a goal during a defeat of his old club Arsenal last week. I know, I know, taunting and excessive celebration are a problem in sports, but I’m not understanding this at all. I didn’t see it, but unless all the people who wrote on it are lying this is what happened:
He scored a goal against his old club, he ran across the field, slid to the ground in front of some Arsenal fans and enjoyed the moment. That’s it.
I know, it’s shocking isn’t it? I can’t believe it.
I can’t believe this guy had to have an improper conduct hearing for this! I know that he didn’t exactly do the most sportsman-like thing ever, but he’s allowed to celebrate and his job is NOT to be sweet to the fans.
Do you think the fans are being sweet to him?
Let’s take this one step farther. Do you remember when the U.S. Women’s Team won the 1999 World Cup? Remember? Brandi Chastian took one of the best penalty shots I’ve ever seen and took off her jersey and did this exact thing that Adebayor did…in victory!
There wasn’t an improper conduct hearing for that? “Oh, but she wasn’t taunting the opposing fans!” How do you know?
Remember Usain Bolt at the Olympics in the 100M final? He was celebrating before the end of the race. “But he wasn’t taunting the other runners!” Was he?
You see, by the logic that penalizes Adebayor, Usain Bolt should have been disqualified and Brandi Chastain should have been brought up on improper conduct charges. This seems like a slippery slope.
Here’s the real deal. He scored. He celebrated. It ticked some people off. I get ticked off every time the Lakers have some chump throw down a turnaround jam on them near the end of a blowout. You know what? The player is allowed to do that! I’m not gonna hate, because my Laker players do that too. I know better than to think my team is perfect.
If the Arsenal fans think their players are so far above Adebayor then we need to roll back tape of every Arsenal game ever played and see how many times Arsenal players have celebrated a goal in an even remotely taunting fashion and bring up improper conduct charges.
“Oh, but this was his old club and he was making a statement.” Please, he’s a Soccer player, what kind of statement could he possibly make? “I scored”? That’s pretty much it folks.
Let’s keep Soccer a gentlemen’s game, but let’s also keep our heads on straight. Sometimes, it just isn’t that big of a deal.
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