Tommy Martin: Would you let Uefa take charge of a kids' end of season blitz?

Once again European football’s showpiece occasion turned into a grim test of endurance for fans.

Man City fans on a shuttle bus as they head to Ataturk Olympic Stadium in Istanbul. Photo credit: James Manning/PA Wire

It is the time of year that sports clubs are organising mini-World Cups, blitzes and miscellaneous end-of-season jamborees. While ostensibly for clubs to reward battalions of scabby kneed kids with goody bags for their winter’s toil, they also allow parent-coaches to celebrate not having to deal with other people’s children for a few months.

Such events are under scrutiny these days, given the GAA’s recent reminder of the dangers of cups and medals to a child’s health and wellbeing. The resulting hubbub means that competitive kids’ tournaments will soon rank with illegal raves and badger-baiting as events frowned upon by polite society.