David Foot column: Red cards are mounting up
Stevens is a guitar-playing extrovert with a cushioned social background and a constant captive following for his enthusiasm and physical fervour on the field.
His West Country fans can't quite believe what has happened and the folly of his action. There hasn't been such a collective gasp from the Bath Rec since a young, fearless Ian Botham spat out the blood with several dislodged teeth after being hit in the mouth by an unfriendly lifter from Andy Roberts.
But we also move morosely on to soccer misdeeds. Last Saturday, 13 League players, four from the Premier League, were sent off. Others had borderline escapes from the red card of ignominy. By any standard this is an unacceptable number. It reflects an appalling lack of self-discipline.
Some of those sendings-off were of course more heinous than others. As normal, a number of managers poured ritual scorn on the referees concerned. That just won't do, however. Billy Wright was never booked in a long career. Nor were Bristol players like John Atyeo and Harry Bamford.
A player who risks this ultimate sanction is being grossly unfair to his team. He short-changes the spectators who have paid to watch 11 footballers compete with 11 others
Senior FA and League officials have noted the disquieting statistic. They must have observed, too, the wholly misplaced phoney glamour that in some cases, for a reason few of us can fathom, accompanies the red-card public rebuke. Home players, usually, too frequently earn a sympathetic cheer as they make their way – not always with overt signs of remorse – to the dressing room.
This column has commented more than once on the stigma which used to be attached to players who were sent off. It carried some shame. Nowadays, after serving the obligatory ban, the offender is on the way back. His dangerous late tackle or lack of control from an unruly elbow is quickly forgotten.
The amateur game certainly can't escape criticism. Disciplinary hearings at Midsomer Norton or Taunton for the Somerset FA at times have heavier agendas than the officials would wish.
At the moment there is an alleged "assault on a referee" by a player case pending. The chief executive, John Pike remains quietly tactful but is aware of incidents, worryingly among younger players, where trouble has been caused by spectators, including parents.
He holds hopes for the success of the "Respect" campaign. But he knows well enough, and doubtless abhors the manner that youthful footballers, some still at school, go out of their way to copy what they see happening on television. Famous players demonstrate their gamesmanship and darker deeds on the blind side of the referee who too often is also subjected to arrogant dissent
Amid this moral mayhem and in days of mythical money as High Finance manipulators attempt to crawl out of the holes they have dug for themselves, there has even been talk of a £100m transfer, a figure never quite substantiated and which in any case came to nothing.
Kaka, the player involved, is said to be amiable, uncomplicated, upright and religious. At least as someone said, Manchester City have got instead the contentious Craig Bellamy. He may even possess some of those same human qualities. But based on his restive past, he just doesn't seem the most obvious of compromises.
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