That's Not A Proper Headbutt

Filed in archive Players on August 16, 2007

Cristiano ronaldo's sending off last night was a disgrace, but not because "violence is inexcusable on a fotball field" or any of those old cliches. He was shown the red card for a head butt that was actualy just a tame little neck jerk. Not saying he shouldn't have been sent off, but the futility of Ronaldo's gesture just makes the whole thing ridiculous. He's never going to actually hurt someone with that little manoeuvre, it's all just testosteroney posturing. But Ronlado gets sent off just as much for that meek little nod of the head. So why do it?

I don't want to see players full on headbutting each other every ten minutes, but if they are going to square up to each other then they could at least do it properly. Seems like it's always a pantomine version of a proper confrontation now, a much much safer version of the real thing. Which may be what we should expect when millionaires get into a fight.