That posses a dilemma I'm 62 with a mental age of 5

Fuck me guys - get your heads out of your arses... Football is just a game - it's passionate for many, ok this includes a minority of thugs, but gives pleasure to a lot of people, employs thousands, apart from the over paid prima donnas, and creates genuine discussion over esoteric sporting finesses.

Yes but russ is spot on. They set such a bad example for 'my generation'

I couldn't agree more with his statement

The problem is that statements like "....its a game played by thugs,watched by hooligans & discussed about by morons", as well as being gramatically incorrect, are not really true. As I said, I'm not a football fan in any shape or form but I know a few folk who are and morons they ain't. Most genuine football fans seem to deplore the high wages and the on - and off - pitch antics of some of the players as much as anyone else.
Since when were pop stars role models, by the way? How I miss the days when being a pop star meant shovelling down as many drugs as possible and living a short life of hedonistic excesses. What's the point in being on the stage if you have to be in bed early and drink nothing but mineral water?

Russ,my wife would say the same about me,but i think i am fine,its the rest of the world,

If the product is aimed at young children then it should be suitable for them, and not a bad influence. There is no issue with folk like Amy Winehouse and Pete Docherty, I personally think they're hilarious but their product isn't designed to appeal, nor is or marketed at children. Their antics may hit the news but its never portrayed in a positive or acceptable light, whereas today's teeny-pop stars relish in attracting their impressionable young audiences with foul language and sexual content, knowing full well that their product is going to appeal mainly to children, exploiting a child's curiosity and fragile ego. They do this whilst being publically celebrated for how wonderful they are in areas where children are going to be the main viewing target.

I would have no problem letting any children in my care listen to a Rolling Stones album, or Sgt Pepper, for example, but I would have an issue with them hearing Beyonce's 'Girls run the Motherfucking world', as to me (and again, only my opinion) I don't think it's suitable for the target audience.


If football is so jam-packed with squeaky clean players, club staff, enthusiasts and audiences and it's just one or two of them who give this sport a bad name then I'm surprised they haven't managed to change its reputation. Since the 1970s it's been known for violence, racism and the off-pitch sexual shenanigans of the players. (I realise the last example is far less important but it helps to adequately paint a picture of the people we are dealing with) and nowadays as everybody has a television and access to these football matches being shown round the clock then it's my opinion that the games should be played by people who are better able to set examples to the audiences regarding fair play, sportsmanship and behaviour.

Apologies if there are grammatical errors that cause this to be misunderstood or incomprehensible.

So we're not allowed to hold opinions on it? Your argument is flawed anyway, in one breath you dismiss it as 'just a game' and in the next tell us how it's a huge industry adored by millions but with thugs in it.

It is Rome all over again. Just modern to keep the MOB happy.

Ok I can't usually be arsed but, I have to agree with Russ, however I don't think football as a game is in any way at fault, it's human nature that's to blame. In the same way as TV 'talent' shows are popular, people are drawn to watching competitive sport, and in Britain it's football along with the 'talent' shows that attract, how shall I say it, 'people who don't like to spend too much thinking for themselves'. But before anyone says hold on a minute, I realise that these things are enjoyed by people from all levels of society.

If we imagine for a minute that football didn't exist, there would be some other form of physically competitive sport that took it's place. All over the world you can see examples of this, and it is always young men at the peak of physical fitness who become the stars. Due to the huge audiences attracted the stars end up being worth a lot of money, and young men with a lot of money will almost inevitably do stupid stuff.

The thing that gets me about football is why is when 2 lots of supporters of different teams meet there is sometimes violence. Not saying all of the people but mindless thugs. If 2 rugby teams get together no problem. Go to Isle of Man on TT week and thousands of men, women and children all pissed up and not a hint of trouble - why just with football?????
Do we lot fight with VW Beetle owners etc....