Talking ball(s)

However laughable the behaviour of  footballers, you can always rely upon politicians to go one better.  Commenting on that fight bitch-slapping sports minister Richard  Caborn said, apparently with a straight face, that :

[Football club chairmen] must tell managers about their corporate and social responsibilities to the game and community as a whole...It's not just about the managers. For the last two seasons I've written to every chairman of a professional club asking them to make sure they bring some discipline...I think there ought to be a general direction from the boards, telling managers that this type of behaviour has to be taken out of the game.

This is a perfect illustration of New Labour's cretinous managerialism:
1. The illusion of control. Mr Caborn seems to believe not only that politicians should influence football clubs but also that chairmen and managers can control footballers. Try to imagine, if you can, what Graeme Souness makes of this statement.
2. An over-reaction to isolated incidents. To managerialists, control has to be total. To them, there's no such thing as a freak event. But of course, there is: Saturday's was the first incident of its kind since the celebrated Flanagan-Hales fight in January 1979*.
3. A belief in self-control. To the managerialist, there must never be any displays of passion or emotion. We must always be buttoned-up prigs.
4. Detachment from reality. The only correct reaction to the incident is to laugh. If you must use a cliche, references to handbags and Scouse weddings are sufficient.
* The cause of that fight is not as well-known as it should be. It started when Mike Flanagan called Derek Hales (who was deficient in the testicular department to the tune of one) "a one-bollocked bastard."

Comments

[dearieme]

Prescotts to you, Mr Caborn.

[Paul]

Whilst I agree with you, there was a fight between Gareth Batty and Graeme LeSaux then both of Blackburn about 10 years ago....

[Tim Worstall]

As it is called in the real game of rugby, Handbags. The ref’s answer is usually stop being prats and get on with the game.

[Monjo]

I dont see the problem of two people having a bit of a scrap. They shouldnt have been sent off, I mean they didnt foul the opposition. For the NU fans, you just spent £30 on a ticket, you're 3-0 down, so it was worth the admission price.
If the ref hadnt sent them off, but just said "Now now ladies, save it for the shower room after the match.", it would have been far better.

[AJE]

I remember Don Hutchison lamping Richard Gough when I was at Goodison in the late 90s. They went out for dinner afterwards and it was never mentioned again.
Disappointed by the Scouse wedding jibe though.