The Fun Police

Watching football on a regular basis, patterns emerge. Some may suggest this is evidence of football’s repetitive nature and the reason they detest it. Fans may talk of the comforting pattern of play or their clear understanding of the game by recognising that the ball over the top, received by the defender on the turn, back towards his own goal, will naturally pass back to the keeper. Paying high prices on a regular basis to see football achieves its value when moments of quality, class, athleticism and artistry punctuate the mundanity.

This weekend Olivier Giroud scored what he claimed was hisbest ever goal. His manager, Arsene Wenger, said it was in his top five goals in the twenty years he’s been at Arsenal. High praise given goals by Denis
Bergkamp alone could occupy the other four places. Even from a mere fan viewpoint, it was clear something special had occurred. At the time, the eyes were disbelieving but the ears confirmed the unique nature of the goal.

A light ripple of applause sweeps the stands as Lucas Perezslides to cut out a cross field pass. The ball is diverted to Hector Bellerin who passes to Giroud, just inside the Arsenal half. After a quick glance to his right, he flicks the ball backwards to Granit Xhaka and this initial piece of skill is met by an appreciative ‘ooh’ from the crowd.

The general atmosphere rises just a touch as Xhaka passesforward to Alex Iwobi who, in turn, slides a ball through to Alexis Sanchez. The crowd noise drops in anticipation. Alexis is the Arsenal player who can do anything and is the hardest to predict in terms of how he will look to go forward. Here, he goes for simplicity; checks back, looks up, sees Giroud bursting in to the penalty area and tries to find him with a lofted ball.

The cross is slightly behind Giroud. Nevertheless, hewatches it on to his left foot which is now arched behind his back. The connection is good. Very good. The ball loops over Crystal Pace goalkeeper, Hennessey; hits the underside of the bar and in to the goal.

What do the crowd do? Usually, when a team break the deadlock, as Arsenal did here, a collective ‘Yeah!’ erupts. This goal was met with a jaw-dropping flash of disbelief before elation slowly rose.

People were out of their seats, sure, but eyes quicklyturned to the screens, eagerly awaiting a replay. It’s then the most telling sounds occur. With every replay came a response that can only be compared to a typically amazed firework display audience. ‘Ooh! Aah!’

It’s the kind of moment that will live on beyond simplehighlights which is why it is so dismaying to have seen a response from some (in the minority – admittedly) disparaging the effort as some sort of fluke. I could get into the details of how Giroud watched the ball to his foot but I’m more concerned by the attitude of such ‘fun police’ negativity.

Maybe you’re a passing observer of football or the news(which I’m told led with Giroud’s goal that evening) and you don’t know what all the fuss is about. I’m referring to those encountered first hand who do watch football, consider themselves fans and, yet were determined to piss on the proverbial bonfire of revelry around Giroud’s strike.

Just recently, Manchester United’s Henrik Mkhitaryan scoreda similarly audacious effort which had many from all corners of the football press and social media decrying ‘offside!’ as if this somehow lessened the ingenuity and imagination of the elite player.

On a larger scale, comments have been thrown Leicester City’s way regarding their title victory last season. “Oh, but they only won because everyone else was crap” or “Yeah, but, look at how bad they are this season.” As if the likes of Wes Morgan and the endearing Andy King give a damn about anyone else. They will forever be known as champions.

It’s understood that the quality of goals can be subjectivebut when the overriding response to a goal is one of astonishment and joy, what motivates someone to kick against that? What are keyboard warriors trying to achieve by messaging celebrating strangers? Does it make them feel clever? Does it give them satisfaction? Do they try and rain on other parades in other aspects of life. Do they greet their mother’s Sunday roast with, ‘Well, I don’t know why you look so pleased with yourself? The oven did most of the work.”

The fun police is a jovial term used for naysayers in today’s online culture. When we’re talking more serious issues surrounding football, of course dissenting voices should be welcome. Issues of power should be challenged if the power is exercised in a way that is, at best, uncomfortable and, at worst, immoral. Here, we’re talking about a fan base enjoying a unique goal scored by an oft derided player (a consistent international – it must be said).

If moments like this can’t be enjoyed for what they are, then I’m not sure what football can offer you. Between the many sideways passes, instances like this are to be treasured.

The fun police are a disappointing side effect of our time. I worry that it’s a symptom of narcissism; where making contrary statements in order to raise their own profile is valued above the shared experience (surely football’s unique selling point). We all have a rough idea, from kicking a ball around in apark, of what it would take to execute a finish like Giroud’s but none of us have; especially in a competitive match, at elite level, in front of fifty thousand expectant fans.

Like Brazil’s team goal, Maradona’s mazy run and Gazza’s loband volley, Giroud’s scorpion kick will take its rightful place in the pantheon of great goals despite the fun police trying to arrest everyone’s enjoyment of it.