Step away from the keyboard

The more things change,the more they stay the same. Today was a prime example of it,well,in the sporting calendar anyway. There was a plethora of sport on today (and still is on as I type this) and whatever interest you had,chances are there was something on today that would interest you. There was GAA,golf and football. We will focus on the football for the purpose of todays write-up.

This afternoon we had the Liverpool v Mnachester United game. It is usually the one fixture that I look up first when the fixtures are released to the general public. There is a rivalry between the two clubs,of that there is no doubt,but also,as if we didnt know already aftertoday,an underlying tone of hatred among some (and I stress the word some) sets of rival supporters. Most notably revolving around the Hillsborough and Munich tragedies,where some sections of the fans sing vile and reprehensible chants mocking the people that perished. Now there is a rivalry there which has been there for quite some time,and rivalries can be healthy. It stems competitiveness. It makes you want to strive to be the best. To go out there and play to the best of your ability. To win but win in the right spirit. But that should be it in regards to the chanting. Chant about the leagues you've won or the golas you scored at the other teams stadium. THAT is where the line should be drawn. When chants about people dying,families,people that never came home (on both sides) come into the equation,well,thats when the line firmly becomes a dot.

Today started with great optimism on all counts. There was an impeccable tribute from the Liverpool fans before the game. The majority of Manchester United fans applauded and respected it but some defiantly had their arms folded and you could tell they were not going to participate. This is not a dig at their club or because they won today,that was what I saw on tv like everyone else. Their captain released 96 red balloons into the sky remembering the Hillsborough victims and one of their all time greatest players presented a bouquet of flowers. Their entire squad even wore "96" on their training gear. Even both managers held a pre-match interview together. Never been done before for this fixture. So fair play to Manchester Unnited for doing their bit in that regard.
The game had almost everything. Handshakes all round. A hotly contested red-card. Goals at both ends. Oh,and a penalty.

And of course these days,in case we miss anything that was said and done at the match,we have the advent of social media. Which,unfortunately,and this is the real point I am trying to convey,can give complete normally non-enteties the chance to make some completely outlandish statement just to fuel the hatred even more,thus completely undoing the good work that both clubs are trying to do. The referee of todays game who is in cancer remission,was the subject of hateful abuse from some Liverpool fans on Twitter,who evern berought wished misfortune on the rest of his family. Then on later viewing,I see a guy mocking the Munich disaster. This is the shite we are trying to eradicate and yet it still manages to rear its ugly head. Hey,I get a little agitated when my team lose. Anyone would. But not to the point of wishing death on someone. Why? Where is the logic in it? And would you be a big man to go upto that person and say it to their face? Or stick to being Mr Anonymous behind the keyboard. A keyboard that Mummy and Daddy should take away from them before school the next morning as it seems thats the intellect they portray when they tweet that vitriol.

In any other sport,it's not there. Lookat the GAA today. Both sets of fans,openly mingling with each other. The only argument they will have tonight is whether to stay for another drink and hopefully be able to make the last train home. Rugby? Same thing. You win,you win. You lose,you lose. Take the slag and have a few drinks after. I hope some day,all the badness in football is gone. And not just in reference to Liverpool and Manchester United,I mean hateful chanting worldwide. I an not entirely holding my breath though.