In the way of the Olympics, football (or if you rather association football/soccer) has taken a bit of a battering both from fans, non-fans and the media. It’s unsurprising; football, after all, is made up at the highest level of overpaid moaning primmadonas that have little knowledge of what real life is like. The difference between the millionaire lifestyle of top football players and the men and women on the terraces (just an expression!) is vast.

In completely contradiction, athletes – despite being elite sportsmen and women too – are far more down to earth, paid a reasonable amount as well as being true heroes to look up too. The dedication is unparalleled, they are real role-models of sport – not caught doing immoral things in the background (and allowed to do it as they are footballers and thus their clubs don’t care) – as well as never arguing with officials.

Football, in the wake of the olympics, has become 2nd best; a grimy, dirty and money-driven version of sport. Footballers are too blame.

Yet, sometimes fans have to look at themselves; watching Stoke City play Arsenal last saturday was an interesting affair. The two clubs have always had a bit of a rivalry since Stoke joined the Premiership considering their style of play is the antithesis of Arsenal’s more free-flowing attacking style (some even call it a rugby team) and Arsene Wenger gets quite easily upset. Indeed, the Stoke fans enjoy a celebration which basically mimics his behaviour. Funny, if unoriginal and all relatively tame.

However, what isn’t okay is the booing of Arsenal player Aaron Ramsey. What is the crime of such player? Has he slagged off Stoke? No. Did he leave them as a player? No. Has he been known for diving? No. Maybe he fouled one of the Stoke Players? No.

In fact, completely the opposite; on the 27th February 2010, Stoke defender, Ryan Shawcross, tackled Ramsey causing a double fracture in Ramsey’s right leg, breaking his tibia and fibula. To be fair, the tackle were fairly innocuous and just happened without any ill attempt; a freak event if you will.

So why then is Ramsey booed? Well, Stoke fans says its cause he still brings the incident up (was a bit iffy about Shawcross being called up to play for Wales) and that he says Shawcross never apologised or anything. Shawcross says that he tried, but wasn’t allowed, so Stoke Fans believe their loyalty lies with their own player.

Now, to be honest, I don’t care about all that. What happened between Ramsey and Shawcross; no one will ever known in truth and that is also their own business. It does, however, not allow for stoke fans to boo an opposition player purely because he may have held some resentment over a tackle.Where is the morals in that?

There are none; it is pure and simple out of order. Football fans need to look at themselves before they start slagging off what goes on the pitch.