WHILE the charge brought against Jason Cummings goes against common sense, the laws are in place for a reason, writes Craig Fowler.
Scott Allan’s whipped ball in from the right reaches the boot of Jason Cummings and Hibs take the lead in the first Edinburgh derby of 2015. For the young striker it is the culmination of a short, but arduous, football journey. Released from Hearts as a 16-year old after a spate of injuries, he has his moment of redemption. He was once a Hearts fan, dreamed of pulling on the famous maroon jersey, but club and their fans became the enemy. Not through his choice, but a decision of the club’s own making.
Now he had his revenge, and with it a great feeling of validation. And what does he do in such a cathartic moment? He gives them a couple of hand gestures, neither of which are technically swearing, and finds himself suspended for the next game – Hibs are appealing, though I’d be surprised if the decision is overturned.
First, let’s set the record straight. He was not cited for the “ssshhh” gesture. That “crime” earned him the yellow card on the field of play. An action which was presumably included in the referee’s report. What wasn’t included was his action of raising one clenched fist into the air, while simultaneously bringing his other forearm across the bicep of the raised arm – otherwise known as the GIRUY (google it) gesture.
He didn’t do it for long. When you watch the highlights back it is just a flash, but it does happen. And that was enough for the compliance officer to issue him with a charge of misconduct for making an “offensive gesture”.
Now, what’s wrong with this? Well, on the face of it, absolutely nothing. He’s been ridiculed and derided by Hearts fans since his ascent into the Hibernian first team last season coincided with the discovery of a picture of him doing the ‘5-1’ gesture while attending a Hearts game a couple of years ago. He also would have received the usual amount of stick reserved for any Hibs player once they step onto the field in the Edinburgh derby – the kind of abuse every footballer receives from opposition support in every match, every week, up and down the country. Whether you like it or not, it’s the nature of the game.
So what’s the problem with the player giving it some back? Surely some common sense can be used. Cummings didn’t drop his shorts and show his manhood. He didn’t go directly to a section of the fans, arms out stretch with a ‘come on then, square go!’ look about him. It was cheeky, it was fun (for him) and considering what would have been shouted at him prior to this moment he should have been allowed to get away with it under the laws of common sense.
Unfortunately common sense doesn’t always apply to football, and sometimes it’s for the good of the game. Personally, I don’t like the fact Cummings got booked, but I understand why the rule is there.
Put yourself in the shoes of the lawmakers. What they need to avoid is allowing any loopholes which make it legal, on the field of play, for a footballer to make a gesture, action or utter a word or phrase which would then incite real trouble. The last thing in the world the authorities want is spectators entering the field of play because they get so wound up that they can’t control themselves. We’ve seen it before in an Edinburgh derby within the last few years.
In 2009 a supporter in the Wheatfield Stand jumped the barrier to confront Derek Riordan after the Hibs striker had unwisely ran toward the home support to celebrate. On that occasion there were a few contributing factors which made the situation more volatile. The game took place on a mid-week night – when supporters are able to consume more alcohol – and the goal looked certain to be the winner. Oh, and it was Derek Riordan. Hearts fans may not like Cummings, but the levels of hate haven’t reached anywhere near the heights they did for Edinburgh’s least favourite nightclub reveller. In short, the Cummings scenario pales in comparison. It wasn’t likely to lead to a harmful incident.
Where the problem lies is trying to find exactly where to draw the line. Football is already a sport made up of a thousand interpretations. It’s why referees are lambasted as often as they are. Every incident is a judgement call. Read any fan’s forum after a controversial game. Sure, many of the supporters may be reacting in the same way, but you’ll always get a few who don’t think it was a penalty, or believe he should have been sent off etc. It’s the nature of the business. When these judgements are about how out of control a player was in his tackle, or how much contact was made in that challenge in the penalty area, they pale in significance to a referee having to decide how close a player is coming to putting himself and others in real danger.
It’s similar to booking a player for removing his shirt. It’s the dumbest rule 99 per cent of the time, but the reason it’s there is to avoid a player removing a shirt and showing some sort of political slogan, which could cause offence. Judging each case would lead to more inconsistencies and it’s just much easier to put a blanket ban over the whole practice. That’s what they’re doing with these gestures. If you do it at all, you should be booked. End of story. (Of course, there are some referees who still don’t enforce this consistently, but that argument is for another time).
Players are booked for such practices because they could cause trouble. If fans really want this to change and more common sense to be used – because there were many Hearts fans who feel Cummings’s ban was ridiculous – then they need to look at their own behaviour and that of their peers. Fans shouldn’t stop slagging off opposition players. As completely childish as it may be, it’s part of the fun at football. However, they should definitely retain some sense of perspective and not be so easily offended when the player gives some of it back.
If supporters want common sense they have to start applying some themselves.
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