Spring is slowly on the way and with the budding blooms comes Spring Soccer. A renewed flurry of activity and sense of community that brings smiles to young players on the pitch and their parents on the sidelines. Sometimes it turns ugly, as this writer has stated before on TOF. While we in the media love to focus on the stolen goals, the fouls and the controversy, this week I focus on a couple of positive gestures and one instance of, well, what not to do if you want to show others what to do unto you.
First up is a story of a class-act gesture by Lionel Messi. Hoping to swap shirts after the game, Barovero found out Messi had promised his to someone else.
Instead, Messi gave his boots to the River Plate goalie. It was a very big gesture. So Sporting players doubled up on escorts. We understand that there is a rivalry here, but come on, people. These are kids who just want to hold the hands of their idols, regardless of what jerseys they are wearing. The present contract of England manager Roy Hodgson runs well past the Euro tournament this summer, but Hodgson, who routinely comes under second-guessing in the press, came out and said that if the public no longer wants him after the tournament, he will step aside.
Gentility frequently is not the name of the game in soccer. Be it scuffles on the sidelines or on the pitch, more positive examples, and denouncement of poor behavior, is needed to ensure that the youth get the right message. We are all but players here, and it is a privilege, not a right, to be able to participate in the beautiful game. There is no discussion of fair play in football without this wonderful Paolo Di Canio moment. Costa earned a second yellow card after thrusting his head at Gareth Barry before making a biting motion toward the midfielder's neck.
Both players said there was no bite. Costa also confronted the referee and the FA has given him until Thursday to respond to the charge that his behavior after the sending off "amounted to improper conduct.
