Demonstration during Arsenal's shrug of a 1-0 win was dismissed as little more than “irritating” by post-match interviewer, in doing so he opened the flood gates for our Git Of The Week..
This week the award goes to perpetual git, Mark Lawrenson, who today on MOTD Extra called the Emirates demonstration ‘a pretty pathetic protest’.
Lawro’s alliterative bile is not only a desperate attempt to be funny, it's symptomatic of the ugly media disdain for non-linear narratives.
“Who won the protest?” The presenter asks. “The fors, the againsts?” With all the subtly and critical dexterity of a gorilla punching a typewriter. In creating this false dichotomy pundits willingly sidestep meaningful discussion; by belittling fan sentiment they contribute to their disenfranchisement.
Lawro’s poisonous outburst resembles more Jeremy Cunt on junior doctors, Nicky Moron on teachers, or Michael Gove on anybody who isn’t Michael Gove. Arsenal fans are to be laughed at.
In truth, they can do no right: “silent” one moment, silenced the next.
In a time when clubs spin more red tape than a menstruating garden spider, fan disconnection has never been greater. Beachballs at The Valley, fly-bys at Goodison Park, and now in-fighting at The Emirates.
These crude attempts to be heard is the discussion: a symptom of a modern game when scantily clad dressing room selfies counts as dialogue. For journalists to laugh this particular demonstration off from such a privileged position is shameful. But then Lawro is clearly used to ignoring symptoms seeing as his body is now 80% plasticine.
Anyway, I’m sure if Leicester cheat their way to being champions today we can expect a nice and cosy article with an easily digestible narrative: ‘Pensioner Wins Lottery.’
