No matter how much the sickeningly persistent build-up to this year’s football season (in particular, the Premier League) might have put you off, it has most definitely started with a bang. Even as a supporter of a league one team – who regularly attempts to avoid the action of the ‘dull’ top flight, it has been hard to miss.

First, the ‘diving’ scandal involving Eduardo of Arsenal re-instated the age-old debate of feigning injury to win, as he did, a penalty, a free kick, or to put an opponent in the referee’s book. This is one of the hardest aspects of the game to preside over for referee’s, as there will never be enough camera angles, or, sadly, honest players, to make a definitive decision. This displays perfectly one of the most important responsibilities that all sportsmen have; that they should, in no situation, indulge in cheating. Seems obvious I know, but if the cream of the football crop resorts to it, instead of using their sporting talent, all the wrong messages are sent out.

Another two events that refuse to go away both involve the same team: Manchester City. Two of the big-spending club’s biggest stars were involved in two of the biggest ‘unsporting’ events seen so far this year. Emmanuel Adebayor ran the whole length of the pitch to after scoring to gloat in front of the fans of his former team, Arsenal, and the following week Craig Bellamy was seen to have hit a pitch invader after one of the most tense Manchester Derbies seen in recent years. Whilst this could be considered disgusting behaviour, we have to look at the other side, Adebayor was victimised (in the form of racist chants) by the Arsenal fans, which surely would spawn some kind of emotion, and the Manchester United fan who invaded the Old Trafford pitch was seen to taunt the Wales international. Whilst not condoning the actions of the two players, surely, as sports fans who are allowed to go and watch the game, we have rights and responsibilities too – the make it a secure, and safe environment for all those around us – including the players.

Jack Burkill