Whatever happened to honesty in the world? I’m sure I recall an age when people put their hands up and admitted that they were wrong at times. It seems that, today, money is the new religion and the ‘truth’ is whatever gets you the most of it.
It’s hard to put an exact time limit on it but what seems certain is that, sooner or later, Carlos Tevez will leave Manchester City on very bad terms. The saddest part of it all is that noone seems prepared to admit that they might have acted improperly. Again the integrity of the sport has been brought into question and you can’t help thinking that massive wages have made spoilt brats of the football elite. Only Carlos Tevez, Roberto Mancini and a few players on the bench will ever know exactly what happened that night but I, for one, would have a lot more respect for the situation if someone was prepared to accept some blame. Instead our ‘beautiful’ game is becoming ever more ugly.
It’s clear that Carlos Tevez has wanted to leave England for some time. It’s also clear that City don’t want sell him unless they receive a fee that they believe is commensurate with his talent and their continued investment. It’s a difficult situation, but it would reflect well on an ever more money orientated sport, if one of the parties admitted some fault for what happened.
Tevez is reportedly paid around £250,000 per week. – a king’s ransom for the vast majority of the world’s members. He’s not short of cash and he seems to have been treated pretty well by his employers. So if he did refuse to come off the bench and play against Munich, he was out of order. Most football fans around the world would have a lot more respect for him if he simply came out and said ‘I’m not happy here but that doesn’t excuse my actions. I just want to go home and I’ll do all I can to facilitate that.’ Instead he’s taking his club to court to fight the allegations that he refused to work.
As I said, we have no categoric proof either way, but Roberto Mancini seems like a pretty straightforward chap. Furthermore, I can’t think of any reason why he would state that Tevez refused to play unless he actually refused to play. In practice, what could Mancini possibly have to gain by lieing?
The idea that there was any sort of misunderstanding seems ludicrous. If, after playing football all of his life, Tevez doesn’t understand the signal for ‘you’re on son’ then he must have some serious ailment that we aren’t aware of. Either that or Mancini has communication problems that would surely have got him the sack before now.
In short, Tevez earns more in a week than many earn in 10 years and he has made a lofty living from fan loyalty. So shouldn’t those fans at least be entitled to a bit of integrity from the man that they have supported so fervently and spent their hard earned to watch week on week?
So Carlos, if you were wrong, we would have a lot more respect for you as a man if you just admitted it and moved on. Leave the country that has rewarded you so handsomely with a little honour and grace.
Whichever way you look at it, the sad fact remains that honesty seems to be a dieing virtue in sport.
kickingsport
Oct 28, 2011 at 10:47 am
Bang on here. It’s a ridiculous saga which seems to have no element of reality about it whatsoever!
Jonny
Oct 28, 2011 at 5:50 pm
Brilliant article. Absolutely spot on.