Paranoia obscures clarity
Less than four weeks ago, the horrible death of Gary Speed reminded us that somewhere deep inside professional football a heart still beats, despite the greed, self-interest and ill-will that clogs every artery of the game.
Briefly, football saw the bigger picture and rival factions observed uniquely dignified tributes. One man’s decency in life allowed us a glimpse of a sport not defined by hatred. For a day or two, it wasn’t necessarily all about the three points.
Then we had the reactions of Liverpool and Chelsea football clubs to alleged incidents of racism on their patch.
The big picture was studied through a peephole. Clots of self-preservation formed. Heartbeat barely detected.
Let’s leave Chelsea out of it for now — as due process takes its course. We can safely say, however, that Liverpool have acted deplorably since the conclusion of an investigation into Luis Suarez’s behaviour during the October clash with Manchester United.
The ridiculous statement rushed to press on the night of the verdict was a shameful lapse for a club that prides itself on doing things right. It was a thoroughly irresponsible outburst; incendiary in its vilification of Patrice Evra and belligerent in its disregard for the findings of an independent commission.
Set against the backdrop of seething malevolence that characterises Liverpool’s relationship with Manchester United, it was a dangerous document. One riddled with inconsistencies too; at one turn smearing Evra as an unreliable witness, the next relying on his testimony.
Then there were the Suarez t-shirts, worn by every member of the playing squad before Wednesday night’s game with Wigan — including Suarez, who came out strongly in support of himself.
Paul McGrath countered the baffling insensitivity best. “Having experienced racist comments throughout my career, I was saddened to see Liverpool players wear those t-shirts. Maybe Kenny is trying to make a statement to the FA, but I just think it is in bad taste. It puts the anti-racism campaign back to the beginning as far as I’m concerned.”
Kenny Dalglish wore the t-shirt too and defiantly insisted afterwards that “they will not divide the football club, no matter how hard they try.” They! It was pure Kenny.
When Roy Keane broke the news last weekend that Manchester United had issued legal correspondence about his criticism of the club, he was quick to conclude that the move had Alex Ferguson’s sanction.
Just as Fergie personifies United, you can’t help feeling that the hysterical Liverpool reaction to the Suarez sentence is being driven by his old rival Dalglish.
For the most part, Kenny provides Liverpool with a likeable public face. During his first spell as manager, he fortified its reputation for grace in victory. Since his return, he has often defused criticism with a smile.
But there is suspicion and defensiveness in Dalglish that rears up whenever he or the club feels threatened. In his autobiography there is a bizarre recollection of Arsenal’s floral tribute before the title decider in 1989.
“It crossed my mind that this could have been a psychological ploy. I know some people genuinely thought Arsenal were trying to push Hillsborough back into Liverpool minds with all the flowers.”
When Liverpool drew Nottingham Forest in the first round of the 1978-79 European Cup, Kenny felt sure it was because UEFA wanted to break the power of English clubs. The European governing body, too, more or less carries the can for Heysel.
Everyone else but Liverpool is in Kenny’s firing line again this week, but he and the club must surely be aware that this story — and John Terry’s — have far wider implications than the struggle to qualify for Europe.
Every weekend, Sport against Racism Ireland fields reports of racist incidents on our playing fields. Judging by the obscene abuse levelled at Evra on Twitter this week, the UK’s problem is as bad or worse. Knowingly or not, that is the kind of sentiment Dalglish is stirring with his paranoia and his t-shirts. Maybe he doesn’t quite appreciate how serious this all is. After all, he admits he never gave John Barnes the kind of public backing he afforded Luis Suarez this week.
“John and I never discussed the racism issue because I knew he had the personality to rise above such pond-life. Digger hardly needed assurances from me about how fully supportive I was.”
Just as it is with Suarez, the bottom line for Kenny is what you can do for Liverpool. “Once they’d seen him play, it wouldn’t have mattered if Digger was green.”
It’s Dalglish who has seemed pretty green this week.
