Football isn’t worth it, says Taylor

ASTON VILLA manager Graham Taylor has condemned the violent scenes which surrounded his side’s derby defeat by Birmingham on Monday night – and questioned whether matches should even take place in such an environment.

Around 40 fans were arrested before and after the game and in Villa Park Blues manager Steve Bruce was struck by a coin, supporters invaded the pitch and clashed with City fans in the Doug Ellis Stand.

Taylor’s response was that football isn’t worth it after an evening which mirrored the first derby at St Andrews in September when a Blues fan was jailed for four months after confronting Villa goalkeeper Peter Enckelman.

The Football Association has already launched an investigation into the game which also saw Villa striker Dion Dublin and midfielder Joey Gudjonsson sent off.

In addition, television cameras appeared to show Blues striker Christophe Dugarry spitting in the direction of Gudjonsson. Taylor said: “There has got to be enough of us to say we’ve let ourselves down as a club but also the midlands with scenes seen right across the nation on television.

“I get asked if the fixture is not worth having if violence is too big a part of it and my response is that football isn’t worth it. People have got to be strong enough to say that.

“After the game we couldn’t leave the ground. The Birmingham City coach couldn’t leave until after 11pm because of all the problems in the streets outside.

“I’m all for rivalry and banter but there has to be a line drawn somewhere and enough of us have to be saying it and not just me. One voice carries little weight,” he said.

Dublin apologised for his headbutt on Robbie Savage which followed a late challenge on the Wales international five minutes into the second half.

Dublin admitted: “I couldn’t sleep the night after the game. I just kept asking myself why I went through those actions and to be honest I’ve still not come up with any answers. I’ve rerun it time and time again. There were no racial comments from Robbie Savage. I can confirm that.

“What he said was irrelevant to be honest. My actions were wrong and it makes no odds what he said to me at all. It was the wrong reaction.

“I’m ashamed of what I’ve done. I let down my team-mates, the manager and the staff and I let myself down.

“Will I apologise to Robbie? That’s irrelevant. It’s about my actions, my sending-off and the way I reacted. It won’t happen again,” he said.