Rudeness, Sportsmanship or Just Passion?

December 3, 2009 by KevB8ll
Filed under: General Football, Kev's Ramblings

Before I start my article, can I say that I don’t have an axe to grind with either of these managers. These are just some thoughts around things, and not a finger pointing article. (I hope!)

I was struck by the happenings at the League Cup Quarter Final between Man City and Arsenal. Arsene Wenger refused to shake hands with Mark Hughes after the game. On the face of it this at best rude and at worse poor sportsmanship.

Now I only saw the highlights, but it did appear that Sparky was possibly entering Mr Wenger’s technical area, which I can imagine was extremely irritating if you are trying to communicate to your players. The thing is, it hardly counts as an invasion does it? I mean, it’s not as if the opposing manager is going to hear anything new. You can hear what both managers are shouting, from further away than where they normally stand – so what was it?

Well although I have to say I do think Arsene was wrong not to shake hands at the end, that is a common courtesy that should be observed. Someone once said that you should treat the impostors of success and failure exactly the same. In other words, be gracious in victory and defeat.

Fine sentiments, but it must be very difficult to carry out when you are having a season like Arsenal / Arsene Wenger are having. They are probably playing the best football in the league, (again), and yet they are just about out of the running for the Premier League title, and now have been knocked out of the League Cup. (A competition that they would definitely felt they could have won.) Coupled with the fact they are missing key players at a key time.

So I can imagine emotions would have run high, exasperated by the technical box invasion! As a result I actually think that Wenger was wound up about both things, which resulted in him legging it as soon as he could.

Mark Hughes was rightly upset, (I would have been too), he said “You should be a bit more gracious than that because it is unnecessary.” Which I also agree with, however did he have to say anything at all? If it had been me, I probably would have laughed it off, which would have probably reflected more in a negative way, on Mr Wenger.

I can’t help feeling that the whole situation has been blown up more than it needs to be. No one has been injured, there is no controversial incident affecting the result of a game and the right team went through on the night. They’ve been talking about this incident all morning on the radio, rather than the actual game – which was a good one.

So, can we leave it now? Let’s just shake on it…

Tags: Arsenal, Arsene Wenger, League Cup, Managers, Manchester City, Mark Hughes

Comments

2 Comments on Rudeness, Sportsmanship or Just Passion?

Arsene Wenger on Thu, 3rd Dec 2009 13:19

Qu’est-que ce aujourd-hui?

Je can shake le mains d’anybody je veux.

Mange-tout, mange-tout.

Il est Welsh. Dit non plus.

John williams on Thu, 3rd Dec 2009 15:41

I will never forget Mark Hughes rolling around in “agony” when he pretended a French player had butted him whilst Hughes was playing for Man Utd. He managed to get the French player sent off by his acting. I have despised him ever since and for him to talk about ungracious behaviour is laughable.

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