Behaviour...

… Is it any wonder kids these days behave more like animals you’d find in the wild than human beings who are part of a civilised society, when they have role models who need a lesson it acceptable etiquette?

Over the last few weeks we have seen the unacceptable behaviour of professional footballers, who are always a focus of public attention. They know this, so why on earth would one decide to kick a ball boy or spit at a member of the opposition? Other footballers and critics can come up with as many reasons as they want as to why Hazard was in the right for “attempting” to kick the ball from the arms of a ball boy; but let’s be honest, it was a stupid thing to do, step back and let the officials do their jobs.  And using the excuse “he’s not a boy (just because he’s 17, and only 5 years younger than the footballer)” is not at all reasonable. If your child came out of nursery (let’s say age 4) and had been hit by another child who was attempting to retrieve Mr Potato Head, you would not accept that as an excuse! So why, should a professional footballer be allowed to go around doing the equivalent? The answer is “he shouldn’t”. It has got to the point where those “celebrities” who are constantly in the public eye need to be taught a lesson or two.

In one of today’s matches a West Bromwich Albion player was sent off for spitting at an opposition. It’s bad enough that I have to see youths bouncing around the streets thinking they’re all that, gobbing on the floor. The same floor that we civilised human beings have to walk on. I for one do not wish to tread in the disgusting slime you no longer want! In no situation is it acceptable to spit in a public place, I don’t want to see it and most of all I do not in any circumstances want to hear it! During a football match you see players spitting all over the place, clearing out here, there and everywhere… but spitting at another player! It’s just not on!

And do not even start me on professional footballers and their sordid affairs. It’s like becoming a footballer gives them a licence to go and do as they see fit, no matter what the consequence, and then even in some cases go the extra mile by attempting to take out court orders to ensure the press can never release such information to the public. If you’re willing to do the crime you should be willing to the time. If you don’t want to be judged for your misdemeanours then don’t initiate them in the first place.

Now don’t get me wrong, I’m not having a jab at every footballer out there, as I’m sure many of them are respectable young men who do not deserve to be tarred with the same brush, but these generalisations are going to be made when so many of these role models are making ridiculous decisions. There are many children and teenagers out there who want to be just like their favourite footballer or sports personality; but it is hoped they only take up the flavour for the sport and gain exceptional skills, not learn how to behave inappropriately or gain a notch in their bed post.