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| Wednesday 30 July, 2008 |
| Blog: Spitting Games |
| As Francesco Totti refuses to befriend Christian Poulsen, Steve Wilson wonders if a man banned for spitting can ever hold the moral high-ground |
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“It's too late to apologise,” wails Francesco Totti with regard to Juventus' new Danish midfielder Christian Poulsen. The Roma skipper's recent comments attempt to paint him as the wronged party - but let us not forget his disgusting spray of saliva arguably cost Italy their chances at Euro 2004. Surely it is time for Er Pupone to man up and take responsibility for his part in the incident?
Cast your memory back, or head to YouTube if your mind is not as accurate as it once was, and you will see what went down on June 14, 2004. As Totti jogged back up the pitch Poulsen childishly blocked him off with an unsubtle shoulder barge, how the Italy No 10 reacted though was beyond reproach. Glaring directly at the Dane he unleashed his phlegm right in his foe's face.
Now that Poulsen has signed for Juventus we are all counting down the days until November 2 when the Giallorossi head to Turin. Their reunion will certainly add an extra element of spice to that game and who would bet against one or two colourful challenges flying in. But wouldn't the more mature Totti strengthen his reputation by making peace with his nemesis?
The Scandinavian has been trying to win friends and influence people following his less than welcome arrival on the peninsula, even offering to shake the Roman icon's hand. However, his olive branch was angrily snapped in two by Totti who snarled: “It is easy to talk now, he could have come and told the truth at the hearing the day after.”
But what was there to tell? That he was antagonising Totti during the game? Surely a tactic used by every tenacious, rugged midfielder trying to shackle a fantasista. That he wasn't spat at by Totti? The video evidence spoke a thousand words. The Italian ace was horribly out of line on that sunny afternoon in Braga, it's time he accepted that fact and stopped spitting out his dummy.
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Finally someone realises that Totti is the bad guy in all of this. As a Danish Juventus supporter, I was pleased to see the arrival of Poulsen as it will definitely bring more media attention towards the club. Unfortunately, everybody talked about how much they hate Poulsen in Italy, but nobody seemed to tell the truth: the only reason they hate him is because he has the ability to take players like Kaka and Totti totally out of action in a crunch game. And that kind of players frustrate the normally spoiled star-players.
Especially in Italy, players like Totti and Kaka are guarded by the refs, and usually gets a freekick every time they lay down on the grass. But on international duty and in the Champions League, where referees are from another nation, they all of a sudden only get the "legitimate" freekicks.
In my opinion both Totti and Gattuso should be ashamed. Their antics brought disgrace to Italy, Italian players and Italian football in general.
Mark
Totti is a child! Poulsen is a man, but someone who oversteps the line sometimes!
Mikkel
We are human beings and we can all make a mistake so every body must forget about the past and must think about the present and the future so Roma's golden boy must forgive the Danish man who will bring glory to Juve and to Italy. Don't think I am a Danish fan, I am a diehard fan of Italy. Forza Italy and Forza Milan!
Abdul Kadir
As a Milanese, I'm not going to stand up for Totti, more so because of his childish act. But we are hardly going to get an impartial account from Mark, who not only supports Gobbi, but he is also Danish.
Roz
Ever since the infamous, parallel incident that happened between Marco Materrazzi and Zinedane Zidane, I have passively observed the differences in collective opinions (hypocritical to say the least) related to the ‘victim’ and ‘perpetrator’ in each respective incident. It begs the question, why is Zidane not ‘encouraged’ to do the same as you suggest for Totti? Why shouldn’t Zidane “man up” after Materrazzi offered many a proverbial olive branch only to be snapped in three? Zidane is portrayed as the ‘victim’ in his incident while Totti is the ‘perpetrator’ in his, yet both were the ones committing the infraction in their respective incidents. You only need to look back at the fact that FIFA decided to punish the instigator (Materrazzi) for mere WORDS in that exchange, while nothing was done for someone (Poulsen) repeatedly provoking with PHYSICAL means throughout the game (not the single incident as you suggest). Does that not scream of hypocrisy to you?
More specific to your entry, I find it way too convenient for Poulsen to be offering his apology over 4 years after the incident occurred. That, to me, seems to be much less genuine and much more opportunistic than you seem to imply in your blog. Francesco was correct in saying that if Poulsen was genuinely sorry, he should have made it apparent to him a long time ago. Do you seriously think that Poulsen would have muttered a word had rubentus not signed him this season? I’m pretty confident that the answer is “no”. Despite the fact that Totti was wrong in his actions, Poulsen comes off as being, yet again, the smaller man with much less integrity than you imply with Totti. The motives behind Poulsen’s so-called ‘apology’ to Totti four years after the fact actually borders on being insulting. Further, the fact that you suggest that there may be one or two “colourful challenges flying in” is a testament to your understanding of what kind of individual Poulsen is.
Now knowing your biases as a Dane and rubentus fan, it is easy for me to understand the overt bias you express in this entry. I forgive you and the rest of the hypocrites.
Marco
Marco, I am not Danish - I think you have got some of the responses mixed up with the main article. As for Materazzi that is a different matter and for the record I agree that Zidane should have apologised for what he did - there is always trash talk between players during a game and spitting/violence is never acceptable as a retaliation.
As for the matter at hand, I don't doubt that Poulsen would not have apologised to Totti had he not moved to Italy - what reason would he have to, for starters he did nothing wrong other than get under Totti's skin. But the fact that he has transferred to the same League as Totti means he knew he would have to deal with the situation and for me attempting to bury the hatchet was the right thing to do - and the right time to do it.
Steve Wilson
What Totti did to Poulsen at Euro 2004 is disgraceful and inexcusable. I was rooting for Italy to win, but Totti’s ban was deserved. It does not matter if Totti was provoked. What Totti did to Poulsen in ’04 is the equivalent of what Zidane did to Materazzi in ‘06. The only difference is that FIFA was wrong to ban Materazzi for “verbal provocation” and right to not ban Poulsen for “verbal provocation”.
Joe, Brooklyn, NY
I have never seen Totti react like that so I believe he had his reasons. When a person is provoked that much he might react badly to it and I think that’s what Poulsen wanted Totti to do. I don't defend Totti's reaction but I understand it completely and the same goes for Zidane's headbutt. In 2004 Totti took the penalty and asked for forgiveness from the Italian people. Poulsen didn't say anything so for him to ask for reconciliation today when he has switched to Juve is a little bit too convenient in my eyes. I'm Danish and a massive supporter of Italian football. My sympathy for Poulsen has deteriorated because of his clashes with Totti, Kaka, Gattuso, Ancelotti, and when he punched a Swede in the stomach that went on to call off the game. Poulsen is a player that tries to close down some of our greatest players in a disrespectful manner and for that I have absolutely no respect. For his own sake I hope he'll change a bit because otherwise he'll be slaughtered in Serie A by players, coaches and the media.
Michael
I want to agree with Steve and Joe that what Totti did is not correct. For God sake Totti is a professional, hence no amount of provocation should have caused him to do what he did. That act cost us a whole tournament. Please help me tell Abdul Kadir and Totti that they will receive no sympathy from Italian fans. Reconciliation is right and must be accepted whether it be it early or late, so Totti should be ashamed to refuse Poulson's olive branch.
John Kamara, Sierra Leone
Bravo Marco and Michael, I could not agree more. I had this long bash written out about Poulsen and how Totti was not 100% to blame in the incident 4 years ago, but decided against posting it. I know that certain players are paid simply to frustrate and get in to opponents minds that are better technically; otherwise you can't hope to win the game when psychologically a player of Totti's calibre feels confident. You have to get in close and bash him verbally and physically which is what we see in professional football all the time, even unprofessional. I can't condemn Poulsen for his style though because you need someone like him in every great team to dish out the hits and intimidate players, its just how the game is played and how you combat talent when you have none. Poulsen is simply one of those uncompromising types of players who has that street ruffian attitude. It's not classy and it's not the best way to go about things, for the player who is taking the constant knocks as well as the one giving them out. Poulsen could easily be booked or sent off and his challenges could cause serious injury to the player - which Totti has had to cope with many times throughout his career because of players like Poulsen. So ultimately I would have support Totti in his defense of unapologising after the whole ordeal. Poulsen apologising first supports my conclusion as well because it shows he has something feel guilty about I think, where as Totti reacted how any real man would react to some thug trying to use intimidation. You can talk to me all you want about Totti being the outright villain but I'm not buying it. And no it's not because I'm a Roma fan either. FORZA MILAN.
Hans Nikolaus, Florida
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