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On the death of humour |
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It really doesn't seem all that long ago that you went to a football match, shouted passionately for your team, but also had some laughs. Alas no more, it seems.
When was the last time you heard a comment shouted from the crowd that brought a roar of laughter from those round about ? When was the last time you saw a referee smiling and sharing a joke with a player ? When was the last time you saw a player get a laugh from the crowd ?
Changed days it seems - but why ? I would argue that football was just as passionate twenty or thirty years ago as it is now and yet humour was definitely a part of the football match experience in those days.
I really, really don't want to sound like my Dad (Woody Allan warned that not becoming your father requires constant vigilance). Nevertheless, I will attempt some explanation.
I miss the terraces and the atmosphere that they engendered and I believe that people act differently when they are seated. The terracing crowd tended to act as one whereas a seated crowd tends to act like a lot of individuals. I think that the terracing crowd was more positive - a goal against your team was greeted with a groan but almost immediately a roar of encouragement would build up. You did not have anything like the number of 'booh boys' that seem to be so prevalent nowadays (at all clubs, I should add).
Boohing your own team is a no-no for me, no matter how appalling the performance you are watching. For me, calling yourself a 'supporter' precludes acting like that. And I think that the terracing crowd would not have let individuals get away with it. The collective will of that crowd simply drowned out dissenters.
There is no doubt that the vast majority of a support will not booh their own team. But nowadays, a goal against tends to be greeted with head in hands and silent suffering by this majority which allows the 'booh boys' to be heard. And these people want to be heard - is there not some proverb about empty vessels making the most noise.
When the collective goodwill of a support sits back and allows the negative vibes to ring out, the atmosphere for everyone suffers and humour dies.
People are also far more isolated on a seat and are therefore quieter. The anonymity of the terracing crowd allowed individuals an environment where they felt more confident and comfortable about yelling and singing for their team and also about shouting out the humorous comments.
The second reason I would give, is the spectacle on the pitch. There are less entertainers in the game and too many over-coached, predictable performers so you are very unlikely to see something amusing during the play. More than that, however, the players get stamped on for anything that approaches interaction with the crowd.
Couple of examples that spring to mind. Last season, when Franck Sauzee scored his first goal for Hibs after a long run of near misses, he whipped his shirt off, twirled it round his head and sprinted towards Alex McLeish, who was beaming from ear to ear. Light hearted moment and a chance for the crowd to smile. What happens - the referee books him and the boohs ring out.
This season, in the first Derby match, Steve Fulton is taking stick from the crowd about his looks. He turns and blows a kiss to the Hibs support, gets a big cheer and a few laughs. What happens - the referee books him. Ridiculous decision.
I think interaction between players and the fans is all part of the game but the authorities seem determined to stamp it out. (By the way, I have absolutely no time for fans who report players for gestures made to the crowd. These same fans, who give dogs abuse to the players, suddenly have their sensibilities injured when a player responds, and report them. Pathetic.)
Referees have also lost their sense of humour and who can blame them. Why anyone would want to take the vitriolic hatred that is part of that job for a few quid is beyond me.
And fans have lost all reason with regards to referees. Good example - I saw the Youth Cup Final last season between Celtic and Dundee at Parkhead. Celtic won by a street in front of their own fans and the referee did not have a decision to make in the game. The Celtic crowd are celebrating. The presentations are made on the pitch and first up is the referee. Uniform boohing and jeering rings out. Why ? - because it is ingrained.
What match officials need is help, not more evidence of their mistakes. Whether it is two referees or TV evidence, I don't know, but they have to make a step change in their performance to get everyone off their backs. Whilst the current situation carries on, they will only become more and more embittered and the chances of seeing them smile is negligible.
So anyway I have failed. I do sound like my Dad - 'those were the days'. I will take off the rose-tinted spectacles now and head for Easter Road. If you see someone there, grinning inanely, whilst all around are scowling, then that's probably me.