Football: Don't blame Taylor for Eduardo's pain
Arsene Wenger loses his temper in the emotional aftermath of Arsenal’s draw with Birmingham on Saturday – and Eduardo da Silva’s awful injury – and calls for Martin Taylor, the former Blackburn player involved in the tackle, to be banned for life. A few hours later he comes to his senses and retracts his words. Too late. As the stable door is bolted back into place the horse is already in the next county.
The injury that befell Eduardo is heart-breaking and bleak. Will he play again? He’ll certainly have more chance than those unlucky footballers who have gone before him. Like Brian Clough who knew, aged 27, as he lay on the frozen turf at Roker Park on Boxing Day 1962 with his cruciate knee ligaments wrenched out of shape, that his playing career was over. Eduardo is in the hands of the experts. It is Taylor for whom the rest of us can do something.
No story was more depressing today than the Daily Star’s front page splash that death threats to Taylor have been posted on the internet. By all accounts it is true although it is, as ever, difficult to know whether to take those involved seriously. It is certainly difficult to know whether to take seriously anyone who refers to themselves as “Babass47” or “Grone4ever89” – those the Star quoted as responsible for the threats.
In the great blogging stratosphere that has found life on the internet it is a pity that certain aspects of traditional correspondence have been lost. Newspapers’ letters’ pages – like that of The Independent - include names and hometowns of correspondents unless there is a very good reason for anonymity. That lends accountability to people’s opinions. Even reporters in newspapers have their names, and occasionally their faces, on top of their stories. Would those who issued such dire threats against Taylor have been so brave if their names and hometowns were attached?
Wenger did the right thing in retracting his comments, but it was his initial more incendiary remarks about Taylor being banned for life that were always likely to attract more attention. It was an enormous thing to say about someone, especially when it turned out that Wenger didn’t actually mean it.
Football, indeed all sport, is full of the kind of inexplicable moments that befell Eduardo on Saturday. They don’t have a rationale and, unlike the movies, there is rarely a good guy and a bad guy – upon whom we can conveniently heap the blame. Clough picked himself up and won two European Cups as a manager but it was debatable whether that ever compensated him for what he lost when his playing career was cut short.
Football tends to defy the neat Hollywood ending. Surely no-one believes Taylor set out to hurt Eduardo; simply that events ran beyond his control. That is what occasionally happens in football, our great unscripted weekly drama in which no-one can predict the ending. It is what makes it so sad at times; and so great.
although i really dislike arsenal and love chelsea i feel so so so sorry for edwardo and taylor as i really understand that he didnt mean to cause such a terrable accident , but i am also so sorry for edwardo as his career could be over i really hope he is ok and that he makes a spectacular recovery , he will be missed by millions of fans during the time he is out.
Posted by: KAYLEIGH | 25 February 2008 at 05:38 PM
Rubbish article how stupid can u get Taylor is 100% to blame for eduardos pain he cudnt even tackle him properly so he broke his leg taylor if i see you and if your reading this i hope u die
Posted by: Marco Serka | 25 February 2008 at 06:05 PM
Taylor did the right thing in apologising for his tackle, but it was his initial more incendiary action on Eduardo that snapped his leg in two that was always likely to attract more attention. It was an enormous thing to do to someone, especially when it turned out that he didn’t actually mean it.
Surely no-one believes Wenger set out to upset Taylor; simply that events ran beyond his control. That is what occasionally happens in football and the media, our great unscripted weekly drama in which no-one can predict the ending. It is what makes it so sad at times; and so great.
Posted by: MN | 25 February 2008 at 06:07 PM
well, if Taylor would not be to blame if his stud showing foot was not up at Eduardo's shins in the first place. Offcourse he didn't mean to break the guys leg, maybe just hurt him a litle, but then sometimes a person kills another person because they were drinking and driving... they didn't mean to. Well the fact is, someone got hurt because you were and idiot. Mean it or not, it is this fools tackle that resulted in Eduardo's broken leg. He didn't fall awkwardly. I bet there were stud marks on Eduardo's ankles.
Posted by: Bob | 25 February 2008 at 06:27 PM
Marco Serka: This is, without a doubt, the best comment responding to an article i´ve seen so far.
To the author: Really? Do you actually feel more sorry for Taylor than Eduardo? Did you see the images or were you just watching cartoons and decided you would write about football?
To The Independent: I think social services has an opening for this writer in the unemployed section.
Despite your total lack of common sense I will say this here (for people like Marco): I've seen contradictory actions in the english football. What could be described as a protocolar misbehaviour such as spitting an opponent or insulting a referee are severely punished, and they should be. But if those actions carry such consequences, whay should lie in store for Taylor? I don't know whether he meant it and I know "an eye for an eye" is probably not the answer, but I do know that if a couple of months from now I´m watching a match and I see Taylor playing, why not celebrating a goal, I will be outraged knowing that Eduardo is still in a cast. Which is why I think, as archaic as it may sound, Taylor should be back in a field the same day Eduardo is.
Posted by: Martin | 25 February 2008 at 06:34 PM
It was a bad tackle and merited a red card and an appropriate suspension. I also believe that it was not done with malicious intent. It was quite simply an occasion when a bad tackle left a calamitous effect on a fine footballer who I very much hope makes a full recovery.
I have only contempt for people like Marco Serka who make vile comments wishing a human to die. Clearly Marka is a very brave man because he vents his spleen behind anonymity. I am happy to reveal my identity in saying that his comment was sick and should be removed.
Hate mongers who take cover behind anonymity do football, their clubs and themselves no favours. It is the classic cnduct of the coward!
Posted by: Paul Martin | 25 February 2008 at 06:52 PM
What an absolutely idiotic article. In reading it you wouldn't even have guessed that Martin Taylor was on the pitch at the same time, mind you that he caused it with his incredibly reckless challenge.
Whilst we can can probably all agree that he didn't mean to cause the damage that he did, there is no doubt (having looked at the footage) that he did intend to take the man and not the ball with that challenge. It's not the first time that we have seen players attempt to crunch into players to 'let them know they are there', or as Big Ron used to call it - giving the player a 'reducer'.
We all know that this is a part of the football culture in this country, the cloggers
get protected, as it is 'a mans game'.
English football needs to get real, and admit that there is a real problem with wild, reckless challenges that put the careers of fellow professionals at risk. Until we punish these sorts of tackles much more heavily than giving these guys a 3 game ban, I'm afraid we'll see more Eduardos.
Posted by: Richard Fero | 25 February 2008 at 07:12 PM
Why were his studs slammed into Eduardo's shin? The ball was never around that area at any point leading up to this "tackle"
The amount of sympathy for Taylor is frankly, jaw-dropping.
Imagine a foreign player with an identical tackle on Terry, Lampard or Rooney. Death threats? I doubt they would stay alive more than a week.
Posted by: TonyS | 25 February 2008 at 07:41 PM
Taylor should be taken round the back of the stadium and humanely destroyed like the donkey he really is. Grind up the remains and fertilize the pitch with them.
Posted by: Stacey Keach | 25 February 2008 at 07:50 PM
Sometimes I utterly despair for some football fans in this country.
Stephen Ireland's wreckless challenge on Lee Young Pyo was a worse challenge - two-footed, off the ground, studs up - but we don't round on him because a serious injury wasn't inflicted. Double standards.
Posted by: Pete | 25 February 2008 at 08:10 PM
I think Taylor definitely set out to up-end Eduardo with the tackle. He may not have set out to ruin his career but there was intent to take out the player and that should be enough to see him serve a lengthy ban. He went in very high on Eduardo's standing leg and has made no attempt to pull out of the challenge.
I can't understand the sympathy and excuses for him at all. Even if he is full of remorse now the damage is done and he should be man enough to accept the consequences of his actions. I think he has lost more face in the aftermath for not having the character to accept responsibility and instead hide behind McLeish's apron strings.
Contrary to reports of death threats, I have seen far more in the way of supportive messages for Eduardo from supporters incuding Tottenham, Man Utd and Chelsea fans on forums but grubby little tabloids will always seek out the more negative aspects. A little sad in my view.
Posted by: John | 25 February 2008 at 08:17 PM
I agree with John. To give Martin Taylor a free-pass is to ignore the evidence on the pitch. There are either two explanations for the tackle: Either Taylor's a crummy defender with no pace or judgement (which begs the question why is he on the pitch) or Taylor's a good defender who thought "here's my opportunity to give this smart-ass Arsenal striker a little knock for his trouble." Either way, the reality is that Taylor followed through on the tackle. When his studs made contact with Eduardo's shin, he locked up his leg and pushed through the tackle with all his weight. I've seen hundreds of similar tackles where the defender, knowing he's made a rash tackle, allows the sliding leg to withdraw. Taylor made his tackle, locked up his leg, and slid through with all his weight. There's no other way to snap a shin and ankle.
He can pretend he's a bad defender all he wants. The reality is on video for all to see.
Posted by: Sam | 25 February 2008 at 09:42 PM
This article is unreal!
"Football, indeed all sport, is full of the kind of inexplicable moments that befell Eduardo on Saturday".
inexplicable? Sam Wallace look at the video and maybe you'll understand what happened.
Waiting for the next article, they'll write that it's all Eduardo's fault and Taylor is the victim of a plot...
I'm tired of this from offender to victim ceated by the media
Posted by: Paul | 25 February 2008 at 10:10 PM
This is probably one of the worst articles on the sorry incident I have read yet, I don't normally post comments but to say Taylor deserves sympathy is utter rubbish, obviously the man didn't set out to injure Edwardo as badly as he did, but there definately was intent, poor little "Tiny", he going be banned for 3 games!!!! Edwardo is lucky because there are more experts around nowadays than in the 60s, instead of being unlucky that Taylor decided to get stuck in. This article and Stephen Kelly's comments that the red card was harsh, are downright stupid
Posted by: Darryl Mongan | 26 February 2008 at 01:52 AM
Is it any wonder the England team continue to struggle at international level?It is obvious to all that these so called tackles are in my opinion camouflaged to take out the more skilful player.Until the FA decide to take more drastic action the thugs in the game will continue to flourish and so will the status of the England team be that of 2nd rate.
Posted by: Oliver Smith | 26 February 2008 at 03:09 AM
This is the most ridiculous and naive article. It reminds me of the burglar in the US. He fell down the chimney of the intended victim. He sued the house owner and was awarded a substantial amount by the lower court judge.Fortunately this judgement was over ruled.
I can see parallels in this case. Taylor did not mean it.
Only the most blinkered eyed and whose iq is that of the retarded will believe it. You never know some of the FA perssonel may be like the lower judge in their thinking.
This is as good a time for the FA to get tough with the thugs/hatchet men. The only apporiate punishment for Tatlor is for him to be banned until eduauardo statrts playing. Then justice will be seen to be done.
The three match ban will encourage the thugs and dont be surprised if a player goes into a coma or has to have his jeg amputated if this standard ban continues.
You have been warned.
Posted by: Jacob | 26 February 2008 at 03:50 AM
English football tends to let too many studs-up tackles go unpunished, and then everyone over-reacts when one of those tackles results in a horrific injury.
Making an example out of Martin Taylor with a long ban would be counter-productive, because his challenge wasn't out of the ordinary, only the result was.
What's really needed is a regular, and regularly enforced policy of say a one month ban for a studs-up tackle. Start with Martin Taylor, but also apply it to every other player who goes in studs up from now on.
Posted by: daryl | 26 February 2008 at 06:19 AM
Why are so many people saying the tackle was harmless? Taylor's foot made contact half way up Eduardo's shin, OVER the ball height, which was on the ground throughout this incident. Taylor was a big bloke diving in at speed and kept his leg locked straight THROUGHOUT the tackle. As someone else mentioned, a player can easily reduce his impact on an opponent if he bends his leg once he knows he's missed the ball. Of course Taylor didn't intend to do serious harm. But it seems clear it was a tackle designed to take the man out if he missed the ball, especially as the game had just started and there was probably a desire to shake the opponent up with an early crunching tackle. Why didn't Taylor keep his tackling leg on the ground??? There would have been no such injury then. I feel mildly sorry for Taylor, but immensely sorry for the young and talented Eduardo. There are too many reckless, slightly late and high challenges like this - only lengthy bans will reduce the number of 'man and ball' tackles that can threaten players' careers. Get well soon Eduardo...
Posted by: Neil Elliott | 26 February 2008 at 08:32 AM
The Taylor guy only got contrite after realizing the extent of damage he had done. And after all said and done, he cuts the image of a regular guy. But the sad thing is that English football is yet to come to grip with the damage such tackles do to the psyches of talented players. Did you see Arsenal after the stretchering off of Eduardo? They were running around like headless chickens. What would have happened if it had been Eboue or Toure that dangerously broke the left leg of Rooney? And England is playing at Euro 2008 in the summer? The campaign would have been "hang all bloody foreign players". This Eduardo is not going to play for Croatia in Euro 2008. In addition, he may never have the psychological courage to exhibit his talent or quickness against opposing defenders again. He needs help/counseling more than Taylor.
Posted by: Shamsy | 26 February 2008 at 08:49 AM
KAYLEIGH:
Your comment sickens me to my core. Surely if you are hoping someone dies for injuring someone, does that not make you worse?
Arsenal fans and negative people leaving comments:
The negative people leaving comments are just as bad as the people who are posting death threats. There are two things more important than football, life and death. And that is why Arsenal were not able to beat Birmingham because they were too grief stricken and realised that.
Sam Wallace:
Thank you for being brave enough to write truth and sense.
Posted by: Dan | 26 February 2008 at 09:45 AM
I am not going to criticise Sam Wallace, he is certainly entitled to his opinion. However what has stuck me as quite disturbing in the last few days is that it is the suggestion that Martin Taylor's challenge was not worthy of a red card.
In all instances, and in particular I refer to sports journalists on Sky Sports’ Sunday Supplement (where Sam is frequently a guest) and presenters on Talk Sport, the line of argument is supported by the assertion that the foul was not intentional. I do not for one second believe that Martin Taylor intended to break Eduardo’s leg. What needs to be understood is that this is not the issue that should be up for discussion. Indeed by all accounts Taylor is a kind hearted man who has been traumatised by the whole ordeal, and his actions are certainly not befitting a man who intended to maim and injure a fellow professional. What is not in doubt, despite the protestation of critics and players is that Martin Taylor’s challenge was a mandatory red card offence.
When one looks at the footage and still photos of the incident, one can clearly see Taylor’s studs locked into Eduardo’s shin. If studs into a player’s leg just below the knee does not constitute a sending off then what sort of tackle does? What we saw on Saturday at St Andrews substantiates all the sendings off we have seen in recent times for tackles with studs showing and a foot or two off the ground. Many of those were deemed to be harsh: Robbie Keane’s against Birmingham being an ironic example. But there is a reason that these kinds of tackles are outlawed, chief among which is that they are incredibly dangerous. The tackler has a limited degree of control, and therefore if he misses the ball he risks causing devastating injury to his opponent. Players know that should they attempt tackles like these, whether they connect with the player or not they run the risk of a red card. Everyone knows the rules, so why are we defending everyone who chooses not to heed these warnings and deterrents? Yes, ninety-nine times out of a hundred the victim does not suffer serious injury, but on Saturday Eduardo suffered what could eventually turn out to be a career-ending broken leg.
Arsene Wenger was right to retract his comments with regards to Taylor himself. It was simply a horrible accident and his three match ban will suffice in terms of punishment. I do however have sympathy with him with his view that teams set out to ‘kick’ Arsenal. Technically inferior teams do attempt to play a certain way when they face the gunners, Bolton being the prime example of the last few years. It is a style of play deemed acceptable in this country because it is a traditional British style. The longer teams hold on to such a style of play, the worse the national team will become. It is no coincidence that Arsenal’s team contains hardly any English players. English players are simply not suited to the continental style that Wenger has adopted, and this is because this bullying style of play still exists in this country and compromises technical proficiency.
Posted by: Tony De Palma | 26 February 2008 at 02:41 PM
James Lawton's article is far more cogent than Sam Wallace's the time has come to end this type of tackle once and for all. Perhaps we could start that process by not using the hackneyed euphemisms of "get in their faces" - "let them know you're there" and the many others that seek to excuse aggressive and violent challenges.
Posted by: Graham Day | 26 February 2008 at 03:28 PM
I have watched the footage as well and it is clear that when Taylor goes in for the ball his foot is close to the ground and his studs are down, if you have seen the footage, as opposed to stills, you will have seen that. There was no malice aforethought and what followed was a horrific accident. The irrational and hysterical reaction to the tackle is insane.
Posted by: Pete | 26 February 2008 at 06:13 PM
Mr. Wallace, your article beggars belief.
This article and the British media in general this past week have demonstrated clearly why England will never win anything in int'l tournaments. You have disgraced yourselves.
Poor poor Martin Taylor, he's so terribly shattered while his victim has his career ended right before a major international tournament. I'm so sure that you would write such a piece if a foreigner had broken Wayne Rooney's leg just before a major tournament.
The fact that the focus of discussion is whether or not the tackle was "malicious" also beggars belief -- as if that has any relevance at all. Did Ben Thatcher "intend" to put Pedro Mendes in the hospital last season? Does a drunk driver "intend" to hurt anyone?
Read today's article from your fellow Independent journalist, James Lawton, for at least one objective, sane viewpoint from the British media. The fact that you believe that it is perfectly acceptable to plant your studs halfway up a player's shins with the full force of your body, never going for the ball (which is on the floor) says everything about the appalling state of English football.
And most of those death threats are coming from Croatia fans, so stop trashing Arsenal.
Posted by: marcus | 26 February 2008 at 06:27 PM
Just a couple of points.
The only time this horror will not be repeated is when the punishments for perpiptrating such a henious act are so heavy, morons like Taylor do not go out to hurt better players.
What is that deafening sound I can hear? Oh yeah, its the silence from the F.A.
Frankly Wenger's first suggestion was probably the right one. A lifetime ban for Taylor, and he should thank his lucky stars he got off lightly.
Posted by: Paul | 26 February 2008 at 07:28 PM
Sadly we have to suffer all the NewsNow cretins, coming here and fouling the clear Indy air.
Posted by: sam | 26 February 2008 at 09:04 PM
What a load of rubbish! Trying to absolve Taylor of his responsiblity. Did you talk to Taylor? did you know what his intent was? Guess what? If you are showing a gun to your friend and it goes off - You did not mean to shot them - but you are still going to be punished and so should Taylor. He was out of control and reckless. The FA should clamp down on this sort of thing - but they won't. Bunch of useless cowards.
Posted by: Socabaptist | 27 February 2008 at 01:29 AM
It is well past time that the "studs up" lunge/tackle was outlawed from the game.
This was done in the nineties with the equally dangerous "tackle from behind".
This requires enforcement from the referees , mangers etc and no excuses can be allowed excuses allowed - a straight red card regardless of contact/intent and whether the ball is won or not.
Preventing the tackle from behind not only stopped injuries it enouraged skills to flourish.
Best wishes to Edwardo for a complete recovery
Posted by: bernie | 27 February 2008 at 03:14 AM
The coverage of this incident in the broadsheets, the toilet papers and on the BBC and Sky has been laced with xenophobic undertones. Hang your heads in shame, I say. Only in England could, oh surprise surprise, the foreigner Arsene Wenger be cast into the role of villain. But he is. On FiveLive the other night some hack called Pat Murphy, evidently Birmingham's unofficial spokesman (so much for impartiality) went as far as to suggest that the tackle was a "mere trip!" And seriously would any of the little bulldog Ingerlanders working for our press seriously suggest that the media reaction would have been the same were say Rooney to have had his leg snapped in half by Eboué? The guy would have been hounded out of the country. Just as Rooney's frequent dives are conveniently overlooked by our great Fourth Estate.
Posted by: Edmund Simpson | 27 February 2008 at 08:20 AM
The hypocrisy of the english is unbelievable.
If this had of been a story where a foreign player had broken Wayne Rooney's leg and possibly ended his career there would be none of this sentiment. Instead it would be "we must wipe this foreing cyncism from OUR Game" but instead because it's some big daft looking english lump we have to pity him.
He meant to hurt Eduardo. He just didn't realise how easy it is to break someone's leg. The idiot.
Posted by: Eoin O'Donnell | 27 February 2008 at 09:45 AM
This article really made me laugh. Football. The great drama. How does someone getting their leg broken constitute any form of entertainment? Did you even bother to read your article before posting it?
I am sure Taylor didn't mean to break Eduardo's leg, but whether he was going for the ball or not, he shouldn't have been going in with his studs showing like that. He jumped in from a standing position so he must have gone in with a lot of force to go straight through someones leg like that.
There's no doubt that Eduardo was too quick for him, but it should be quite obvious by now that it won't stop an opponent following through into our players anyway. They think kicking us will unsettle us. Some players even openly admit it to the media prior to the game! It's about time referees and the FA stopped it, because this has been a long time coming. Nobody argued like this when Dan Smith did something similar to Diaby a couple of years ago.
And going back to the article, what kind of heading is that? If Taylor isn't responsible for Eduardo's pain, who is? The referee? His teammates? The fans? God? Fate? This whole article has no grounding in reality.
Posted by: chris | 27 February 2008 at 09:57 AM
Three games for Martin Taylor for smashing Eduardo's leg in three places, four games for Aliadiere for a gentle handbag slap? Enough said...
Posted by: Forna | 27 February 2008 at 09:58 AM
It has to be one of life's delicious ironies that the F.A. are going to do F.A. about Taylors challenge. It really showed is teeth yesterday by increasing Aliadiere's ban to 4 matches for a slapping an opponents face. Taylor's ban has been increased by F.A.. I can't think of an organisation that is more appropriately named, have they got any idea? They've got F.A.
Posted by: Graham Day | 27 February 2008 at 10:04 AM
Now that Taylor belongs to the elite club of the bone-breakers, I see no reason to worry. Any strikers, perhaps with the exception of Drogba, who dare to play football within 15 metres from him would have their career in jeopardy. No wonder the guys in Birmingham are so happy. Come on, this gut is not idiot, but a genius.
Posted by: Allen KLT | 27 February 2008 at 10:17 AM
tht was gay there was no need to do tht on him taylor sould be banned from football
Posted by: luke | 27 February 2008 at 10:45 AM
Blame it on Arsene, Gallas, Eduardo, Arsenal and the pitch but not on Taylor because he is a nice guy. What load of rubbish! Have anyone seen an image of Taylor's tackle? Drunk drivers don't mean to kill either but shouldn't they be blamed?
Posted by: kwame Boadu Kissi | 27 February 2008 at 12:01 PM
to the article writer you are a disgrace to the human race,to say that taylor is the victim and his not to blame just shows you no nothing about football, so i guess Eddy told him to jump and brake his leg, you are a idiot, if taylor is so traumatised he would of had a few days off to sort out his head, the club is just saying that so the fa dont take further action and people dont attack him on the streets, i dont wish nothing on no one but i hope taylor get gets what he deserves and i hope you get fired from your job because you are totally S**T.
Posted by: frank | 27 February 2008 at 12:37 PM
While accusations and death threats against Taylor are completely ridiculous. Football's a game where injury can happen and until there is proof that Taylor deliberately set out to hurt Eduardo, I think blaming him is unjustified and death threats are ridiculously misplaced. A mistimed, bad foul could have been committed by any premiership player, media attacks are unwarranted and inconsiderate.
Posted by: James | 27 February 2008 at 05:24 PM
I am sure those who issued the death threats didn't mean it; they have been traumatised by it all. They shouldn't be blamed for Taylor's pain.
Posted by: Kwame Boadu Kissi | 27 February 2008 at 10:53 PM
You're wrong. Wenger did not say sorry, or take back his comments. He meant what he said and left Taylor dangling there to be hammered by the whole world. Look at his and Arsenal's actions too, they are a disgrace
Posted by: Daveygravy | 28 February 2008 at 08:12 AM
SHAME ON XENOPHOBIC WRITERS, YOU ARE A DISGRACE TO YOUR PROFESSION. DID YOU WRITE ANYTHING WHEN SUNDERLAND PLAYER PUT DIABY OUT OF THE GAME FOR 9 MONTHS, AND DIDN'T EVEN GET A YELLOW CARD? OF COURSE, ENGLISH PLAYERS ARE ALL GREAT LADS, THEY NEVER MEAN TO HARM ANYONE, THEY NEVER DIVE, JUST THESE BLOODY FOREIGNERS, HUH?
THIS IS WHY ENGLAND DON'T WIN IN INTERNATIONAL FOOTBALL, BY PRETENDING TO OURSELVES THAT WE ARE SUPERIOR TO ALL FOREIGNERS, IT IS OUR BIRTH RIGHT THEY STEAL AWAY FROM US, AND THEN WE GET MCLAREN FOR SVEN; THE GREAT ENGLISH CHOICE!
ROONEY HAS A GET OUT OF JAIL IN ENGLAND, ABUSE OR BEAT ANYONE INCLUDING THE REFEREE, AND NOBODY TOUCHES YOU, WHICH HE HAS GOT USED TO. NO WONDER HE IS SENT OFF SO REGULARLY ON NTERNATIONAL SCSENE, HE FOGETS HE IS NOT THE NATIONAL HERO OF THE COUNTRY THE REEREE COMES FROM!
Posted by: ALAN | 28 February 2008 at 10:54 AM
come on everyone please relax
far far worse things happen in this world of ours
Posted by: jack | 28 February 2008 at 12:29 PM
Is there any chance of tracing the IP address of 'Kayleigh' (25th Feb 08, 5:38AM) and alerting the Police to the fact she's openly issued a death threat towards Taylor?
She's the type of scum football can do without and the sort we should be getting rid of, not Taylor.
Posted by: Kaje | 28 February 2008 at 10:12 PM
After re-reading the comments, I obviously meant Marco Serka and I apologise to Kayleigh for the mix-up!
Posted by: Kaje | 28 February 2008 at 10:13 PM
Why is it that people claim Taylor never meant to hurt Eduardo but are quick to jump on the throat of those death threatening? Does it not occur to them that they might not mean it either?
Eduardo has his legs broken in several places, lies in a hospital and can't work for about nine months but somehow england feels more sorry for Taylor the perpetrator and sees him as the victim in all this. Don't you love the english?
Posted by: Kwame Boadu Kissi | 28 February 2008 at 10:37 PM
Besides visiting Eduardo in hospital and spologising to him, Mr 'Reckless' Taylor should also pay a visit to his family, wherever they are and apologise to them for depriving them of seeing him in action in the remainder of the season AND the Euros. It was probably what they had been looking forward to since he made the Croatian national team. To further show his sincerity, he should also help to look after his family because the guy won't be able to walk for some time and won't be able to take his family out for a swim or something similar.
Posted by: Allan | 29 February 2008 at 08:50 AM
I think what Mr Wallace is trying to say rather incoherently is that Eduardo was at fault for
"that tackle" because a) he is not English and therefore suspect and devious by default; b) Taylor is English and therefore honest and innocent by default, and c) like so many bloody foreigners, skilled and quick on the ball.
Don't not what the fuss is all about. Sound logcial to me.
Posted by: Edmund Simpson | 29 February 2008 at 11:00 AM
Sam, I hope your articles will improve in the future. I must agree with a fellow reader's comment and berate you for your title. By stripping Taylor of blame in your title you point towards a larger issue, (surely), but your article does not explore anything of this nature and renders itself pointless.
This does in fact become a race issue, believe it or not, as many other readers have suggested. The majority of the top jobs in football journalism are held by English men. In fact, it is very rare to see any foreigners on The Sunday Supplement for example. There is absolutely no doubt that had a foreigner broken the leg of Wayne Rooney or Steven Gerrard, these same journalists like yourself would be singing a vastly different tune.
And quite simply, challenges like Taylor's are the reason England are second rate when compared to continental Europe. 'English grit and determination' is widely applauded in this country, when really what it is is a way of getting even with far more skillful opponents. Arsenal have a preference for skill and technique,and teams that cannot match their technique resort to a physical game that borders on bullying. To celebrate players 'getting amongst them' rather than applauding skill and slick passing is an example of why England is inferior to the rest of Europe. May I ask, which is the more noble pursuit? Has football not evolved here yet? It must only be called 'the beautiful game' in the rest of the world.
Posted by: Anonymous | 29 February 2008 at 06:37 PM
Shame it wasn't that nasty piece of work, Fabregas. A more deserving target you couldn't name.
Posted by: Joseph Malma | 03 March 2008 at 09:49 AM
Well Taylor not to be blamed, it's the FA to be blamed that players go intentionally crushing into a tackle to almost demolish a colleagues career can still play again after a mediocre 3 game suspension. Nothing else happens. This is outrageous and ridiculous. It's like a 3 day jailterm for taking someone's eye ... Never agree with Blatter, here I sure do !
Posted by: Aziz Ibrahim | 08 March 2008 at 05:17 AM