Let’s hope Dele Alli’s brave words spark sea change for fans who have dragged football into the gutter
IN the snarling, competitive world of the modern game, very rarely do football folk all want the very same thing.
This is the one such time, because even the hardest hearted are praying Dele Alli’s painful confessional is the day his life began to turn in a much happier direction.
There would be no greater sight than seeing him in the Premier League again one day.
A smile on his face, doing the thing he loves, yet so nearly had turned his back on.
Of course, it will be a long, hard road and, who knows, he may never get there. But you’ll struggle to find anyone not in his corner.
The courage he showed in baring his soul on sexual abuse as a child and his sleeping pill addiction beggars belief.
The easy step to take would have been to walk away, let his life drift in another direction, away from the public glare.
Over the last four years everyone has passed judgement on the Everton and England midfielder.
All with the same conclusion, that here was a kid who had the world at his feet and booted it away.
Now the truth is out.
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Actually he had the world on his shoulders instead. And in seeking help, he has made the bravest and toughest decision of all.
It would be great to think Dele’s candour will see other tortured souls pick up the phone — and in all likelihood that will happen.
Yet in the months to come, it would be great if the day he revealed his demons is one we eventually look back on as when the whole public view of a footballer turned. It may be fanciful to hope but how good would it be if it turns into a time when the DNA of the fan finally changed?
For all the forward steps in recent years on racism and homophobia, football can still be a cesspit.
All it takes is one fluffed penalty, one missed sitter, one own goal — and social media is awash with filth and fury.
Raheem Sterling, Marcus Rashford, Bukayo Saka, Jadon Sancho… the list of those who have been targets for low life is endless.
Indeed, the day after Dele’s interview, Wolves were fined £100,000 for supporters’ homophobic chants against Chelsea in April.
Not much, it seems, has really changed.
Yet nothing has had such a widespread impact as the red-eyed young man spilling his guts out to Gary Neville.
There is little doubt that as and when Dele does return, club allegiances will be cast away and he will be warmly greeted by fans of all sides.
If you are affected by any of the issues raised in this article, please call the Samaritans for free on 116123.
But deeper than that, it would be fantastic if this is the moment which makes football supporters see beyond the shirt a player is wearing and consider the human being that is beneath it.
When they stop for a second and realise they aren’t easy meat, 90-minute objects of hatred.
When they realise no one knows what is going on backstage, away from the pitch.
Look, no sport is more tribal and evokes such high-octane emotions as football.
That will always be the case and one of the reasons we love it as we do.
No one wants that to change. But it doesn’t have to come with a dose of obnoxious, odious abuse on the side.
For Dele’s sake, let’s pray it is the day he took the first steps towards smiling again.
For football’s sake, let’s pray it is the one which sparked a sea change for those supporters who have so often dragged it into the gutter.
But the sad reality is that it’s said more in hope than expectation.
SAVE THEIR BILL-IONS
THERE is plenty of time for things to change — but have there ever been as many Prem owners so determined NOT to spend?
Certainly, outside the top six or seven, there seems to be an increasing number with the view: “Why should we, when we’re getting very little back?”
There are no footballing romantics, just people thinking about the bottom line. Or more specifically, the bottom-three line.
So long as it keeps the money rolling in and we don’t have to see much of it rolling out.
The only exception right now is Bill Foley at Bournemouth.
He spent a few quid in January and secured safety when many thought they were doomed — and is having a go again.
But beyond that, there has been very little.
And it is hard to see a flood of signings beyond cut-price buys or loans.
Never mind the Great Depression… nearly a century on, it seems the Prem is going through one of its own.
KYLI SEASON FOR REDS
WHENEVER Kylian Mbappe’s next stop is discussed, Anfield invariably gets a mention.
While that may be as likely as me ever wearing a Liverpool shirt — that will NEVER happen — it is a sign of their standing as a footballing giant.
It was a subject for discussion on social media again last week.
Around the same time Everton were finalising a deal to sign 38-year-old Ashley Young.
As someone was quick to ask, has there ever been such a gulf between Merseyside’s Premier League duo?
Mind you, give it 12 months, we might be talking of Merseyside’s one Premier League club. And they won’t be wearing blue.
CHEERS TO LIONESSES
FANCY a pint with your breakfast as you cheer on the Lionesses?
Well, if you’re one of the lucky ones, you might get a ticket to a new East End boozer for the Women’s World Cup.
It’s a pop-up pub called The Queen’s Header in Shoreditch and will open its doors for one week from Saturday, to show England’s first two matches against Haiti and Denmark.
Tickets cost a fiver and include brunch and expert analysis from players Toni Duggan and Fran Kirby, but are limited so get in quick.
Just one thing, though. In a pub packed with women, don’t expect anyone to get a round in! (That’s a joke, before you all kick off. Ask my missus!)
OZ WHINE SO SWEET
THE Aussies have never been slow to find an excuse for defeat.
After Headingley last week, they were insisting that things would have been different had Nathan Lyon been available for the Third Test.
Well, at least they got a Test and a bit out of their first-choice spinner.
England have had to do without Jack Leach for the whole series.
And to think they call us Poms whingers!
ORANGE IS GOLDEN PASS
LOVE them or hate them — and I know which camp I’m in — you have to hand it to those Just Stop Oil campaigners.
For all they’re a pain in the a**e, they certainly know how to get tickets for all the big sporting gigs.
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