Give the poor Sutton goalie a break: this was pie-eating, not match-fixing | Anthony Clavane | Opinion | The Guardian

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Football romantics hoping to witness one of the biggest upsets in FA Cup history on Monday evening were left disappointed by the sight of the mighty Arsenal brushing aside plucky Sutton at Gander Green Lane ground with a routine 2-0 win.

Wayne Shaw leaves Sutton United amid investigations over pie-eating stunt

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At least, in the 83rd minute, they could take comfort in the reassuring spectacle of the non-league side’s 23-stone reserve goalkeeper guzzling a meat pie in the dugout. Such moments tend to be ripe with symbolism, epitomising an apparently egalitarian competition that allows pub teams the opportunity to dream of toppling Premier League megabrands, destined to be replayed for years to come in humorous clip shows and more serious magic-of-the-Cupdocumentaries.

To TV viewers, the goalkeeper in question, Wayne Shaw, actually looked like he had just stepped out of the pub. He was even reported to have joined Sutton fans in the bar at half-time.

Until Monday, at least, Shaw was deemed to be one of the game’s “good guys”. Before Piegate, he was the club’s unsung hero – Mr Sutton. As well as making occasional forays on to the pitch, he was goalkeeping coach, caretaker of their plastic turf and community liaison officer. He often even slept overnight at the ground to help prepare for match days.

To many, he was the antidote to modern football: a larger-than-life character who put the fun and commitment back into a bland, corporatised game skewed in favour of a powerful, moneyed elite. But it turns out that Shaw was not the messiah, exactly. He had been, in fact, a bit of a naughty boy.

Before the game, Sun Bets offered odds of 8-1 that he would eat a pie on camera during the match. He knew about the bet and scoffed down the food, he said, for “a bit of banter”. For this one misjudgment he has been hung out to dry.

 

 

Source: Give the poor Sutton goalie a break: this was pie-eating, not match-fixing | Anthony Clavane | Opinion | The Guardian

John Terry banned by FA

John Terry banned by FA and fined

I welcome the FA verdict, but is the sentence sufficient as John Terry as only been given a slap on the wrist.

Many people are saying the FA was wrong to bring this action against Terry as the British Courts had found him not guilty.

But was the verdict in the British Court of Law right or wrong?

I believe it was wrong and is giving a green light to other footballers and their supporters to continue making racist comments.

It was therefore right for the FA to bring the action and for them to find him guilty.

As we have seen in many recent cases British judges are completely out of touch with reality and the social culture of the UK.

Are British Judges right.

The reason being, supposedly, in a Court of Law, there should be no degree of doubt to bring in a guilty verdict on which a judge or jury have to decide.

In a Civil action or an Employment Tribunal, of which the FA case could be classed, the degree of doubt is not as great as that in the Court of Law.

On viewing Terry’s actions and hearing his comments, while he has admitted saying the words, all be it not racially, he says, he as not shown any remorse.

This, I believe, truly shows Terry for the person he is.