Terry vs. Ferdinand: how it began. Photo by football-focus-news via flickr
A moment of great anticipation arrived Saturday when Chelsea and Queens Park Rangers met for the first time since John Terry was legally cleared of issuing a racial slur toward QPR’s Anton Ferdinand during the clubs’ previous match. As match day approached, concerns centered around the pre-match handshake: would the clubs participate, and if they did, would the two players exchange greetings?
Premier League officials forced the clubs to meet at midfield. Ferdinand walked along the Chelsea, with his teammates, and exchanged handshakes until he walked past Terry and teammate Ashley Cole. Terry, who had extended his hand, was acquitted of racially abusing Ferdinand during the teams’ first meeting last season. Cole was a character witness for Terry during court proceedings in July.
Saturday’s kerfuffle that followed the “aborted” handshake never again should occur. It is time to end this appearance of sportsmanship by ending the pre-match handshake.
Start with Saturday’s situation as well as with the case of Luis Suarez, when he refused to shake the hand of Patrice Evra in February when his Liverpool side faced Manchester United. An allegation of racial abuse at Evra during the clubs’ October 2011 match led to Suarez being suspended for eight matches. Toss in players believing they were maliciously injured, who was sleeping with who’s significant other, whatever other reason, and there are enough awkward moments in the handshake line.
Then there’s the match itself. Do I really want to wish you well just before the match begins? If I’m a striker, and you’re Petr Cech, I want to put four goals past you. If I’m on defense, you’re not passing me, and if I have to give your legs the Veg-O-Matic treatment (“It slices! It dices!”), so be it.
What benefits come from pre-match handshakes? For league sponsors, plenty since they’re usually televised; it’s a final opportunity to get the corporate name plastered across the screen before the match. For league officials, it sends a silly message of sportsmanship. I write “silly” because it lasts a few minutes until the first harsh tackle or complaint to an official.
Now that you know my view, if we ever should meet on the pitch I will be more than happy to wish you and your family well … after we beat your side 6-0.
