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Football Retribution and Restoration Part Two

Stuart Butler

7th April 2005

Fine ‘em,
Sack ‘em,
Flog ‘em,
Hang ‘em,
ASBO ‘em,
Imprison ‘em,
Suspend ‘em,
Bring them to their knees
Throw away the keys,
Then lock the door.

And/or –
Give them sensitivity,
Sensibility,
Rationality,
A fine that goes to charity,
Learning from the community,
A wider emotional intelligence,
Than one that is merely based
Upon being “focused”
On one game at a time
And where cheating is no crime.
(Now let’s look inside my chest
And see what the good book says),
“He that is slow to anger is better than the mighty
and he that ruleth his spirit than he that taketh a city.”

Anyway, some more thoughts on the subject of errant footballers – emotional intelligence is, paradoxically, all the rage in schools at the moment but a whole generation of current young footballers will have missed that fresh educational experience about rights, responsibilities, freedom, respect, anger, feelings, empathy etc. That generation needs educating so as to ensure the footballing local heroes and role models do the right things and reinforce rather than subvert the messages that schools are giving to children – something the PFA, Football Club Study Centres and LEA’s might want to think about.

(Talking of which, splendid letter in the Daily Telegraph arguing that Bowyer’s fine should go to help the victims of violence – women’s refuges in the north east, for example.)

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Source: http://footballpoets.org/news/2005/04/07/football-retribution-and-restoration-part-two/