West Ham and Millwall thugs put rugby 'crisis' in perspective

Harry Redknapp says Spurs chairman Daniel Levy wouldn't countenance his desire to bring Sol Campbell back to Spurs. Spoilsport. Big Sol meanwhile, is quite happy, with his FIVE-YEAR CONTRACT but insists he could have got more money elsewhere. "I just want to play football," said the Jerry Maguire-loving has-been. And Garry Cook, Manchester City's loathsome CEO, was denied the man-hug he likes to share with new signings when Joleon Lescott arrived at Eastlands. Cook was out in the car park to greet Lescott, but the value-for-money defender just went for the traditional handshake. Well done that man. ---- THE BEAUTIFUL GAME Rugby can stop the hand-wringing. Because, clearly, it's not the "new football". Not even close. Ordinarily, nights like that do wonders for rugby's sense of superiority. At the moment, though, with the egg-chasers facing their own navel-gazing crisis – Bloodgate – few rugby fans will be smug enough to sound off. Unlike the Harlequins scandal, however, none of the blood spilt last night came from a joke shop. This was real "claret" as they like to say on Green Street. Sky Sports News' cameras were outside the ground this morning, interviewing landlords and looking for answers. But perhaps when reporter Gary Cotterill gets back to HQ, he should pop down to the Sky 1 office and ask why that channel continues to produce Danny Dyer-fronted documentary shows called The Real Football Factories, which succeed in turning racist runts into 'celebrities'. Yes, in many ways, violence was predictable at last night's game. But still, when you read about people these individuals throwing darts into crowds, stabbing people in the chest, attacking horses, punching stewards, hurling bricks, making monkey chants and invading the pitch, it's difficult shrug your shoulders and say "It's West Ham Millwall, what d'you expect?". It's particularly tough when you see the expression of bewildered despair on the face of Gianfranco Zola, a man who upholds everything that is right and proper about the game. And even more so when you consider the case of Jack Collison. Collison lost his father this week in a tragic road accident. Yet, to Zola's surprise, he declared himself ready for the match against Millwall. Collison's reward for that incredible act of courage was to spend the night shepherding thugs from the pitch. Eventually he left the ground in tears. Did some Millwall fans really sing "Where's your daddy gone", as has been claimed this morning? I wasn't there, so I can't say for sure whether they did or not. But hand on heart, would you be surprised if they did? Of course not. That's where we're at. ---- QUOTE OF THE DAY: “When Sven first contacted me I thought I was the victim of prank, but the length of contract was a big trade off. I can play for three or four years and then maybe look at the coaching side.” Sol Campbell on his five-year, £40,000-a-week contract at Notts County. BET OF THE DAY: Celtic last team to score v Arsenal @ 11/4. MUST READ: Oliver Brown's report on a disgraceful evening at West Ham.

Source: Telegraph

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