Having the moniker of the “No Fun League” has been a problem the NFL has found it hard to shrug off in the sports news columns. Now English soccer seems like it is experiencing something of a culture change and aiming to be known as a place where fun is not tolerated as well.
We already have the rule that if you celebrate by removing your shirt the referee cautions you for being overzealous. Over the weekend, the no fun police made it known they weren’t happy at Liverpool’s Ryan Babel attempting to have fun at the expense of an official.
What we’re alluding to is Babel’s choice to post a photo of referee Howard Webb wearing a Manchester United shirt on Twitter, accompanied by the message; “And they call him one of the best referees. That’s a joke.” It came after a game in which Webb’s officiating was questionable and the reaction is straight out of the book of schoolboy pranks.
Most found it rather amusing and this band even includes PFA head Gordon Taylor, who told BBS Radio Merseyside, “Where’s our sense of humour gone in our game. He’s apologised, let’s move on.”
Babel’s subsequent apology included his admission that the Twitter police have slung him into the Twitter jail for the time being. Personally, I can’t wait until the next time Babel plays and there’s a questionable decision. Next time, it’s going viral!
