A manager’s trait that needs to end in football
In an ever politically correct society, football continues to be thrust under the microscope and people’s comments upon certain issues are played over and over again in the hopes of coming towards a decisive conclusion on whether to punish a few foolish murmurings. In the light of Fabio Capello’s resignation and inevitable rumours encircling Harry Redknapp’s head surrounding the vacant England capacity, journalists and spokespeople everywhere have been urged to remain tight-lipped until the current season is out and the FA come towards an agreement about an appointment.
So if managers cannot comment on the current England role, should they be able to comment upon players from the opposing side? The question comes in light of Arsene Wenger’s public criticism of Luis Suarez in his knack of ‘buying’ penalties following the controversial penalty in the recent Liverpool-Arsenal league fixture. Kenny Dalglish has called on the FA to look into the Frenchman’s comments and thinks Wenger’s labelling of Suarez as a kind of cheat is out of order.
Time and time again, we hear managers referring in transfer terms to the repeated, tired old phrase ‘I won’t comment on another team’s player’ and then weeks later indeed that man has moved to the club. However, this gentlemanly conduct is not always maintained when referring to another playing following a contentious incident or sending off for example.
When emotions are running high in the immediate aftermath of a match, the media grab hold of managers and obtain more raw and original versions of what has just taken place on the field of play. Whilst some managers tend to remain smart and refrain from naming any players to avoid FA punishment, both Wenger and Sir Alex Ferguson have been anything but silent in recent months.
Ferguson’s jibes were also in relation to Suarez and the Scot maintained the player shouldn’t play for Liverpool again. A scathing outburst and the standout quote from an intriguing interview after the ill-fated affair at Old Trafford in February.
But back to the case of Wenger, he damned the much documented public courting of Samir Nasri last summer whereby Roberto Mancini boldly claimed the club were looking to sign the midfielder, but what is the difference between commenting on player in transfer terms and commenting on a player in the way Wenger did relating to Suarez?
It seems there is a grey area of uncertainty in relation to what verbal misconduct is and what isn’t when referring to players of the opposition. Does Kenny Dalglish have a point, is commenting on other teams’ players a manager’s trait that needs to end?
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March 13th, 2012
Managers should stop talking about other clubs players. Players like Suarez and Gerrard should stop cheating.
March 13th, 2012
How on earth are you going to fill blog like this with mindless twaddle when Managers are not allowed to talk about anything?
March 13th, 2012
the worst club for it is Barca! the tapping up of Fabregas was absolutely shamefull! for atleast 2 years they systematically name dropped in interviews and got his international team mates to do the dirty work when he was away from arsenal. in the end they turned his head so much that arsenal had to take a knock down price for their best player! yet FIFA did nothing to their golden club! their ‘holier then thou’ attitude is disgusting, the fact they think they can sign just about any player they want at the price they want (not the price the selling club wants) shows a disgusting amount of arrogance, and if they cant get the player they want their interest is genrally enough to make the player kick up such a fuss at thier club that the club have no option but to sell at a discount! not denying that on the pitch they are phenominal (glossing over the diving, rolling around on the floor, surrounding the ref to try and get players sent off!), off the pitch there seems to be one rule for them and another for everyone else!!!
March 14th, 2012
Why should wenger not complain when the penalty was against his team?
March 14th, 2012
Yes definately, Kenny Dalglish has made a very good point but not as big as the point on top of Wengers head !
What Ferguson and Wenger have done is defamation of Character against Luis Suarez.
Their allegations have been broadcast around the World potentially damaging the players reputation and undermining his value.
The FA, the Police or the CPS should take the appropriate action against these two managers.
March 16th, 2012
I think you will find that Suarez would loose any court action in relation to “defamation” he has no “impeccable character” to protect! He is a proven racist he soiled his own character and damaged his own reputation. In any case this would be a Civil matter as no criminal law has been broken so no police or CPS. The FA have no powers under their own laws governing conduct. Case closed!
March 16th, 2012
Commenting on a player who is under contract in terms of wanting that player is a breach of Article 18bis of the Regulation of Status and Transfer of Players. Rules regarding conduct are stated in Rule E of the FA Rules and Regulations. These are typically vague but do not make any specific statement about talking about a player in the way Dalglish has accused Wenger of a breach. Seems fair to me that a Manager of one club can make reference to the abilities either negative or positive of any player. In Suarez’s case he is a proven racist and clearly a cheat … therefore fair game for such comments.
March 20th, 2012
I feel there has to be a governed rule for all. Manager’s such as Wenger cannot complain about Nasri being talked about for a move and then complain about Luis Suarez and his penalty appeal. This seems hypocritical, no?
May 3rd, 2012
I can understand Wenger not signnig The Humanitarian™. He fits well with Les Bleus; direct-attack football. On the Arsenal (by far, the greatest team) he wouldn’t work despite his amazing skills, I cannot picture him hanging back and passing the ball around twenty or so times before attempting to score.I’m not saying Wenger has the correct strategy. He has formed an undersized and overall less experienced squad in a physical league. But you have to recognize the ability of Arsene to manage a team. He is keeping the team in the Champions League without the debt so many others incur trying to do the same. (not thrilled with the dry spell of trophies, but I think better days are to come)VN:R_U [1.9.15_1155](from 0 votes)