RESPECTING anthems, no segregation, what football can learn from rugby


THE first signs that King Kev's Geordie Empire is on the road to ruin


ONE in three: Ledley King can't go on like this, can he?


SHOULD we have a sporting boycott of Spain?

Hatchet Man ditched the football at the weekend and spent Saturday watching England versus Wales at Twickenham. There were comparisons – like England lost – but there is much for football to learn from that lot with the funny-shaped ball.

• Hatchet Man - the last instalment

Here are some observations from the home of rugby.

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England's rugby team sings the national anthem but the Welsh one was also respected

• 1. Rugby trusts its supporters. The beer flows, few seem to abuse it. Four pints takes some doing in one match (they give you a cardboard carrying tray) but it would have been rude not to try.
• 2. The respect of both national anthems is truly impressive. The Welsh chap next to me became so emotional, he sang both! At football matches, some mumble the anthem, others ignore it – and they shamefully boo the opposition's anthem. At Twickenham, as far as the eye could see, everyone belted it out. Perhaps the supporters take their lead from the playersand they don't need some half-baked opera singer warbling the anthem at a different pace to everyone else to encourage them.
• 3. When the opposition does something well, the home fans clap them too! Imagine that at Old Trafford when Steven Gerrard pokes one in the top corner.
• 4. No racist or homophobic chanting. Not even a mention of Charlotte Church whenever Gavin Henson got hold of the ball. They didn't even sing: 'Does she take...?'. You know the one.
• 5. No segregation - English and Welsh supporters enjoying the occasion together. Which was only mildly annoying when they started scoring lots of points.
• 6. One thing rugby could take from Wembley is the organisation of a large crowd on to trains at Twickenham station. I witnessed one child being swamped by a surge towards a train and a young girl being jammed against a train door. Wembley's police skilfully control the flow of people, communication is clear and trains are regular. At Twickers, I waited eight minutes for the first train on a busy platform. Not far from dangerous.

What do you think that rugby or football can learn from each other?

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And from the world of bookmaking, we have the first signs that the Geordie Empire is on the road to ruin and just four games into the reign of 'King Kev'.

Ladbrokes spokesman Robin Hutchison said: "Punters who were welcoming him (Keegan) with open arms a few weeks ago appear to have changed their minds judging by the postcodes on the internet accounts backing him to leave."

Remember, when they all pile on, where you read it first. Keegan won't last. Newcastle fans deserve better.

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Next we journey to the Umbro website, following the launch of another new England kit. "This is not just a football shirt. This is a statement of belief, determination and intent."

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Seeing red: England's new kit will not even be seen at a major championship

Next up, in any game that matters, we play Kazakhstan. In the meantime, the rest of Europe plays in a major championship. But at least we've got a kit that's about "belief, determination and intent". And costs £40.

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Monkey chants for our footballers, such as Ashley Cole, Shaun Wright-Phillips and Emile Heskey, insults to Thierry Henry, now racial abuse and 'fans' dressed up with messages scrawled on T-shirts and faces painted black, aimed at Lewis Hamilton.

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Disgraceful scenes: Spectators at the Circuit de Catalunya, in Montmelo, near Barcelona, during pre-season tests

Spain has a problem with race and sport. Should we have a sporting boycott of the country, until it shows signs of dealing with it, rather than burying their heads in the sand? It is disgusting and has no place in modern society.

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Read this morning that Ledley King can only play one game in three. In all seriousness, that is a terrible blow to Tottenham and there must be concerns about the long-term damage he is doing to his body. Early retirement would be a terrible shame for such a talented player.

But he can't go on like this, can he?

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They said: "I enjoy being coached and I enjoy being coached by the best in the world. You want to suck up as much information as you can." -Rio Ferdinand

They meant: "It's so much better than that idiot with the umbrella."