You Cheating Scumbag

As if Ashley Cole's tackle on Alan Hutton wasn't bad enough the lack of respect he showed the referee, Mike Riley, was appalling. Cole's argument that he had touched the ball was farcical, he was nowhere near the ball, but his turning his back on the referee and then telling him that he could read the name for himself was a sign of a total lack of respect that seems to affect a high number of professional footballers these days.

The only saving grace last night was the performance of Joe Cole who once again showed why, after Steven Gerrard, he is the most important player in the English national team. It was rather ironic after my recent posting about Paolo Maldini when I singled out Cole and Eboue as the two best examples of defenders who can't tackle that he should make a challenge like this. The really sad thing is that he didn't get a red card and that because Mike Riley awarded a yellow card nothing can be done about it. It would be nice to think that behind the scenes somebody at Chelsea said enough was enough but you get the feeling in the moral vacuum that is professional football nothing will happen.

Postscript:

Ashley Cole apologised on Thursday both to Alan Hutton and Mike Riley, so in the fairness of things I think that's a good move. Two points however, firstly the apology came after the England squad for the game next week was announced and the news had broke that the FA couldn't do anything about the incident and secondly, Mike Riley should be demoted immediately from the Premiership list for his inability to issue a red card. Anybody who watched the match must have been in total agreement with Robbie Keane who minutes after the Cole/Hutton incident was booked for a comment which he then followed up with the clearly visible, "Yeah, well done Mike, well done." As I've said before on this blog and 6-0-6 my heart sinks when West Ham are playing and Mike Riley is named as ref. Not because he is strict or weak but because he is so annoyingly inconsistent. I like Ashley Cole's comment that the petulance he showed is one aspect of his game he is ashamed of and he must try to curb it, that plus driving off the road when being informed he is only worth £40,000 a week.