Fabrice
Sunday, March 18, 2012 at 6:00AM The football doesn't really matter. Seems all fairly redundant at the moment when a young man is in critical condition fighting for his life. Everyone present at Spurs and those that watched via TV were emotionally anchored to the scenes transpiring on the pitch.
Soon enough, life will continue for all of us. Hopefully for Fabrice Muamba on the road to a full recovery. And even though we'll all think twice about frivolous problems (in comparison to all this) and arguments relating to our club and its dramas, that perspective we all have right this second that it doesn't truly matter and that it's just a game and such an incident proves that to be the case...it will slowly begin to fade and everyone will settle back to the way it was.
I'm not sure what my point is other than to support your team and enjoy the game for what it is, for what it is meant to be, and that when football fans of opposing sides sing together a players name, it should not be deemed as a surprise or exceptional football fan behaviour. Rather a dignified human reaction to a terrible moment. Everyone was a credit to themselves (the medical staff, the club, the players, the fans). I'd hope for the same reaction in any walk of life tagged with a label.
We're fragmented by tribes within the game, that's just part of the make-up of football. Wash it all off and you're left with people, some good some bad but for the most part good, who simply care for the well being of another human being. But the reaction we witnessed was only possible because of this game we love so much. It was powerful, the united support and in that instance in some ways football does truly matter because of how it amplifies and transcends that emotion.
I don't know Fabrice Muamba but my thoughts are with him and his family. Because he's part of the family.
Reader Comments (20)
Spot on Spooky football doesn't matter at a time like this wish the lad well!
Couldn't stop thinking about Fabrice - hope he pulls through. Very moving scenes from the Lane. Thought Kyle Walker's comments on Twitter were absolutely appropriate. Doesn't matter who you support . . . doesn't matter if you're not religious, pray for the lad.
The boy lives. The rapid response shown by the medical staff, one spectator and respect from the crowd will save his life. He lives, lets put that into perspective.
woke up early and great to see the lad is fighting on- just couldnt believe what we were seeing last night....just wrong......heres hoping for a proper recovery - you could have said spurs had forfitted the match last night i wouldnt have give a toss.......just so hope he pulls through this and recovers...
p.s. from the arms length of espn it seems the fans in attendance were spot on with behaviour which was great for both clubs..
Well said Spooky.
Keep up the fight Fabrice, our thoughts are with you and your family.
THFC fans, players, staff and all associated with the club were a credit to themselves and the game of football.
Nicely put Spooky, may god be with Fabrice Muamba as he recovers
we all pray for muamba , have to say well done to spurs supporters , staff and the tottenham hotspurs..
Football and its tribalism can ignite the most truly animalistic and ugly of human behaviours. Last night, Tottenham and Bolton fans showed that it can be truly inspiring and humbling. It made me cry.
Now we can only pray that he is ok.
Well said Spooky. We're all praying for a full and speedy recovery for Fabrice
I was at the game. It was the most horrific thing I’ve ever witnessed. He was given shocks with a defibrillator several times and I saw Fabrice’s body jolt with every one. It looked like the medical staff had got his heart going again several times but they kept losing him, much to the distress of the crowd. The surges in support you might have heard on the tv where basically the crowd pleading with the medics to please not let him die. Simply awful
Looking forward to the day that we get to see Fabrice walk out onto the pitch again at WHL.
Get well soon fabrice
There were no 'respect' badges required at WHL yesterday. I hope the FA see just how much football fans respect and love their players, whatever team they play for. Well done the fans. That's what respect is all about.
Get well Fabrice.
When Shankley said football was more important than life or death, he was wrong. If Fabrice survives, it will be far, far more rewarding for those fans at WHL last night than any silver trophy or a top 4 finish.
Whether we win anything or nothing, I will NEVER be prouder of this club than I am for our medical team who worked with their Bolton colleagues. He who saves a life saves the world
I know he is not our favourite but Howard Webb handled it fantastically as did everyone else. Totally agree it washed all the tribalism away.
Have to agree with one of the comments above. Howard Webb may have not done us any favours in the past but I'd take that for how he reacted yesterday. The medics seem to have done a life saving job ( I really hope so). If I was luckily enough to be able to choose between life and and a trophy there is only one winner. #perspective.
Thank the Lord Jesus Christ we weren't playing Arsenal. . . That would have been the end of it! The end of years of hate, loathing, disrespect, and tribalism at it best!
However , On the other hand, it may have resulted in proper car crash TV!
Hope the lad pulls through. . . .
Nice post Spooky, I agree fully with what you and others have already said. Here's hoping that we shall all see a happy outcome to this sad incident. Get well soon Fabrice,