da betcris： Just in case you missed the memo, English football is back in the dark ages.
da brdice： Following their stunning upset over Exeter City, Warrington Town hooligans flooded onto the pitch in an act of violence, sparking memories of 1980’s trouble. It is of little doubt it marred their victory and there were now calls to remove Warrington from this year’s FA Cup.
Sorry, wrong pitch invasion. The above one was actually reported as ‘jubilant scenes’ and used to highlight the real ‘spirit of the cup.’
Now, of course, the invasion that greeted the end of Aston Villa’s quarter-final with rivals West Bromwich Albion was by no means something to condone. People running onto the playing surface before the end of the game was indefensible. However, the scenes that greeted the final whistle were ones of elation, not anger, ones of celebration, not violence.
It is almost as if the two stories in this year’s tournament are of completely different events. Is it an outpouring of jubilation or an act of hooliganism?
The FA are ready to investigate both Midlands clubs for the incidents in their game. The same FA who will no doubt use footage of Warrington’s invasion for years to come, selling rights and sponsorship off the back of ‘The Magic of the Cup.’
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Aston Villa are in the midst of a truly miserable season, struggling in the lower reaches of the League and a national laughing stock in terms of their ‘goals for’ column. Their victory capped off their best week in several seasons, beating one of their closest enemies twice and booking a trip to Wembley.
Those fans who have taken their seat at Villa Park and been subjected to the dire football their team have produced this year deserve their celebrations. They deserve their moment on the pitch. A trip to Wembley may be a once in a generation event.
Who is to say that a lower league upset warrants more celebration than a big win by a Premier League team in a huge game? The fact that the scenes of utter ecstasy came at the end of only a quarter-final, highlights the struggles Villa have encountered, years of pent up frustration spilling onto the turf at Villa Park.
Now, if the FA is to punish Tim Sherwood’s side it should be for the small minority of idiots trespassing during the game. Not the large scale acts of ‘violence’ reported in the national press.
So now the FA has an important decision to make. Punish Aston Villa and set a precedent for every lower league team’s support that celebrates an unlikely victory by crossing the white lines.
There must be action for the idiots that went over the top, but they were extremely isolated incidents.
Football’s spiral to the dark ages may have been over exaggerated.
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