Off With His Head
Stewart Dickson - University of Bristol
"F***ing what? What? F*** Off."
Possibly the most un-imaginative rant to grace the world recently, and certainly no where near the calibre of Charlie Sheen, but this five word tirade aimed at the TV camera has probably as many column inches in the tabloids as the continued military bombardment of Libya.
That pundits and large volumes of fans (specifically fans of those clubs who either play united soon, or are in the title race), should even be discussing the need to ban him after the outburst is indicative of just how pathetically ignorant, two-faced, and defeatist they are. Fan’s up and down the country are calling for him to be banned for three games because he swore. If we were to ban every player who swore during a premier league game this weekend I doubt that anyone would be able to field a squad next week. Just because it was highlighted, and clearly audible does not make it any more offensive than those players who have the fortune of not having a camera in their face as it happens.
Maybe we should also ban every fan who lets fly an expletive from the stands, or at the pub, or sat in their comfy armchair preaching to the world how they have never ever swore..... not once. Without any hint of irony I heard one fan shout out “it’s a F**king disgrace.... He isn’t allowed to F**king talk like that.. what a P**k...” a tirade that continued for the rest of the game. Those damming him for the influence this has had on their children are also delusional. It may not be pretty but this language is now part of the common vocabulary, and kid’s will hear much worse in their music, TV shows or films. the Societal impact of Rooneys five word rant is non-existent, everyday we are bombarded by foul language and I doubt this is the first time anyone heard this word, and anyone who says the contrary is probably a liar.
The holier than thou attitude is disgusting primarily because it is only ever directed towards certain players. Had the golden boy Steven Gerard done this the fuss would have been minimal, we all remember a silent press when he was in the dock for assaulting a guy in a night club. Rooney has his every move scrutinized by the press and public, but to hold him to a level of anglicism that no fan or ordinary citizen could even abide is pointless.
To punish Rooney for this “crime” would be arbitrary and would leave the same disgusting taste that the FA’s pursuit of Holloway did. If the FA are to punish Rooney it is only because their hands were tied visa vie the McArthy elbow incident, an incident worth punishing. To those who will cite Drogba’s ban, Rooney did not aim it toward the ref. This very fact should allay those criticisms that his behavior compromises the ridiculous “respect” campaign.
Although it is unsavory, I want Rooney to be this angry, to be this emotional. How many Arsenal fans are desperate for someone other than Cesc Fabregas to show the same determination to win that Rooney did. I can tolerate a few bad words if it means I get to see the Wayne Rooney who can destroy any defense in the world. I would much rather watch the second half display of Rooney, than the recent performances of the £50 million pretty boy Torres.
But go ahead put him in the stocks, and we can let the imbecilic public react like the underclass’s of the medieval world, chastising him for being exactly like them, before we lead him to the gallows and hang him for this most vile offense. And then once the dust has settled, we’ll watch another of the EPL’s top talents jaunt off to La Liga, and we will be impoverished for it.