Muamba collapse reminds us of respect agenda

Looking back over the weekend's football, one story is quite rightly occupying the thoughts of fans across the country: the collapse of Fabrice Muamba during Bolton's FA Cup quarter final against Tottenham.

Fabrice Muamba

As I write this, there are reports that Muamba is speaking and recognising relatives, and one only hopes that he continues to make progress and heads towards a full recovery. The best wishes of football fans across the country and beyond, regardless of where their support lies, go to Muamba and his family.

The events of Saturday were quite clearly distressing for all those in the stadium at the time, with players and officials visibly effected. Reports suggest that Spurs fans showed genuine concern and respect in equal measures, and deserve credit for doing so. It is of course the least that should have been expected of them, but the attitude of English football fans in recent years means that we have come to be grateful for signs of respect, not expectant of them.

Perhaps I am tarnishing the many with the brush of the few, but from my seat at Upton Park I have suspected for the last few seasons that that the atmosphere at our grounds has changed. There is an added vitriol to support from the stands, which often spills over into outright abuse. This kind of venom is more often than not delivered by individual supporters rather than whole stands in unison, but it certainly feels like a degree of respect has been eroded from our game.

For example, fans over the age of 21 will no doubt remember the home team's supporters behind the goal clapping the opposition's goalkeeper as he took his place between the sticks for the first time. It was a small gesture and was probably followed by at least 45 minutes of heckling, but it at least demonstrated a modicum of respect; an acceptance that the guy has an impossible task, and is highly unlikely to grab the morning headlines. I genuinely can't remember the last time I saw that happen, either at West Ham or any other ground I have been to in the last few years. Can you?

Another example is the dying practice of appreciating good play. I may be looking at this issue with rose tinted spectacles, as I know I am prone to do, but there was a time when it was perfectly acceptable to acknowledge a wonder strike from an opposition player. Look back at footage from as little as 10-15 years ago, and you are likely to see the odd home fan clapping a Le Tissier belter or a Bergkamp curler (ok, maybe not at White Hart Lane for that one). Have you clapped a goal of outstanding quality despite it being from the opposition recently? Do you think doing that would be respectful to the skill you have witnessed, or disrespectful to your own team?

I also recall Max Gradel, then of Leeds and now of St Ettiene, tearing West Ham apart at Upton Park earlier this season. It's one of the best performances by a winger I have seen at West Ham for many a year, and it was nigh on impossible to not admire it. West Ham resorted to kicking him to stop him, and the fans screamed abuse at him for having the temerity to go down after one particularly nasty two-footed lunge. When he was substituted towards the end, my friend and I very briefly clapped to show appreciation of the performance. A couple of older supporters around us did the same, but we were very much in the minority, with the rest of the crowd around us choosing to scream some of the worst abuse I've heard in years at him instead.

I know some of you will read this and think that I have lost my mind; that the passion in our grounds creates the unique atmosphere that makes English football attractive to so many across the world. And I agree with that. I don't want to make our grounds into libraries, or even to develop tennis-style atmospheres where there is complete silence followed by polite applause. Nor do I expect cross-city enemies to sing positive songs about their rivals' star striker. We are passionate about our game and have every right to cheer on our team as loudly as we like, and so long as it is appropriate, make life as difficult as possible for the opposition.

My concern is that I don't think showing passion for your team and making life difficult for the opposition, cannot be achieved without also showing a bit of respect at times. This weekend's events are a stark reminder that whether we like it or not, as supporters, we have a great deal in common. Fabrice Muamba could just as easily been one of your team's players; would the circumstances have been any more tragic if he were? Quite simply; no, they would not. 

We all invest so much time, money and energy in the game because we love it so much. One would hope that would extend to showing a little more respect for the good in our game than we currently have.