‘Tis the Season for Football Peace

By: Bob | December 27th, 2006

There is something about this time of year that leads people to put away their differences and to extend the olive branch of peace. That doesn’t apply to Jose Mourinho and Sir Alex Ferguson, of course, but don’t let them bah humbug you out of believing that enemies can in fact become friends.

Perhaps the biggest enemies around in recent weeks have been France legend and UEFA fat cat Michel Platini and Roma captain Francesco Totti. The two have been in a bit of a cat fight after Platini suggested Totti should be suspended if he didn’t accept a call up to play for his national team. Totti made the mistake of actually paying attention to what Platini had to say and took offense. Platini decided to take the high road this week, writing in the monthly rag “Number Ten” (are you only allowed to subscribe if that is your shirt number?):

“Dear Francesco, you are an artist of football, a true number 10, as I was, how can you and I have an argument? It’s impossible. Us artists can only tease each other without meanness.

“Just as in my time there was a certain Sivori who made jokes about me, so in twenty years I’m sure you will make jokes about the future number 10 of Roma. And knowing you, I’m sure it will be very funny. Just as I do at times, but with irony and affection for who impersonates the beauty of football. Someone referred to you wrongly about things I supposedly said about you.

“I wish you to win with the shirt of your favorite team: in 2009 the Champions League final will be played in your stadium, the Olimpico of Rome. Perhaps I will see you there…”

Cue the violins, the goose bumps and the long man hugs.

If bitter enemies like Platini and Totti can kiss and make up, surely combatants with minor differences like those belong to Israel and Palestine can also follow suit. For the second year, a team composed of Israeli and Palestinian footballers will take part in The Match for Peace. The team will take on a squad of Andalucian players at the Seville Olympic Stadium in Spain.

Finally, another intractable problem is being solved now that the France Football magazine has urged French fans to bury the hatchet against Marco Materazzi and to shower him with good cheer. I’d include the link but I misplaced it sometime during the last few days while I was busy patching up my own differences with Sepp Blatter, Oliver Kahn, Cristiano Ronaldo and that ~~piss water~~ great beer known as Budweiser. UPDATE: Of course the post I was thinking about was on this very site. Duh, too much Bud for me.

Anything is possible this time of year.