Whiter than Lilywhite

Perhaps it’s a cliché, but we are often advised to judge a player purely on what they do once they have emerged from the tunnel and crossed the white line onto the field of play. These people are only part of our lives because of what they can do with a ball at their feet, so is it ever fair to judge them on what they get up to off it?

This week we’ve all had a good chuckle at Jack Wilshere drinking and smoking whilst on holiday in Las Vegas, but would we be in uproar if it were one of our boys in that situation? And what about when it gets more serious than succumbing to cigarettes and alcohol?

At Tottenham Hotspur we always yearn for a hero. More often than not this takes the shape of a charismatic, daring attacking midfielder. They may not always be the most influential player in the squad, but the panache and artistry that they possess cause the White Hart Lane faithful to fall hopelessly in love with them.

[linequote]We’ve all had a good chuckle at Jack Wilshere drinking and smoking whilst on holiday in Las Vegas, but would we be in uproar if it were one of our boys in that situation?[/linequote]

Three players that undoubtedly fall into this category are Glenn Hoddle, Paul Gascoigne and Rafael van der Vaart. However, these men are not just bound by the place they have in all our hearts, they have also all been involved with controversy off the pitch.

Gazza and Rafa have both admitted to perpetrating domestic abuse, and although one may argue that Van der Vaart only hit Sylvie once and that Gascoigne’s addiction issues should be taken into consideration, these incidents remain undeniably unjustifiable. The comments that Hoddle made about the disabled in 1999 were seen as offensive by many, and downright bizarre by everyone else.

All three men have apologized unreservedly for their actions, and I don’t believe for one minute that any of them are bad people, but I imagine there are more than a few Spurs fans out there that feel a twinge of guilt for still idolizing them.

Of course, the misdemeanors of rivals clubs’ players are universally latched upon by Spurs fans, often commented upon and chanted about indefinitely. It goes without saying that this is extremely hypocritical, but then again hypocrisy is probably intrinsic to the irrational tribal nature of fandom.

Another obvious disparity is the immense weight we place on players that disrespect the club itself. When Hossam Ghaly threw the sacred white shirt at the feet of Martin Jol after being substituted in 2007, the fans made sure that he never played for the club again. How morally reprehensible would off-the-field behavior have to be in order for the same outcome to occur?

[linequote]We have to remember that they are human beings that will, on occasion, make mistakes ranging from cheating on a partner to befriending Eileen Drewery[/linequote]

Also, the man that we despise more than any other, Judas, is hated for footballing reasons. Yes he may be a deluded fool off the pitch, but we hate him purely for what he did to the club. Nobody in the world of football could be despised as much by Spurs fans without deliberately dishonouring the club, although John Terry tries his best.

I think overall there is a balance that must be struck. Unsavoury things that our players get up to away from football must never be condoned, and we have to remember that they are human beings that will, on occasion, make mistakes ranging from cheating on a partner to befriending Eileen Drewery.

Of course, when they step off the pitch after 90 minutes of football they should be given privacy, but privacy should never be a license for moral deviance.