You can’t do that, baby.
Eamon Dunphy isn’t happy with Lionel Messi.
The world’s best footballer has annoyed Ireland’s most outspoken pundit with his decision to set up Luis Suarez from a penalty, rather than shoot himself, during Sunday night’s 6-1 win over Celta Vigo.
The rarely attempted piece of play was largely seen as a piece of ingenious skill, but there have been some disconcerting voices, claiming the act was disrespectful.
Dunphy is one of those voices.
The RTE pundit was on 2FM’s Game On Monday evening, and said the piece of play lacked any class, calling it “bolloxology” and said the Barcelona forward should apologise.
“No class. It totally lacked class,” Dunphy said.
“You have to respect your opponents and you have to respect the game and you have to respect the history of the game. None of the great players of the past would have ever dreamt of doing anything like that.”
(Eamon seems to have forgot the great Johan Cruyff made the move famous back in the early 1980s for Ajax).
“Everyone who loves football, loves Messi and he has let himself down big time. He’s let the game down. He should apologise and he should be reprimanded by his coach. You don’t mess with the game. It’s sacrosanct.”
Dunphy wasn’t finished yet.
“He won’t be doing that in a Champions League final if he gets there, he owes an apology to his opponents, to the fans and to the people who love him and made him rich and famous.”
“That kind of bolloxology – to use a colloquialism – there’s no place for it in the arsenal of a great player. Lionel Messi is probably the greatest player we’ve ever seen. He was way out of order, his coach should reprimand him. He should apologise and if he doesn’t he loses a little bit in my eyes. I feel very strongly about it and I’m no goody-goody.”
“You’ve got to respect the ethos of the game.”
“It’s basically cheap. It’s a stunt. It’s self-indulgent.”
Messi has yet to respond. We’ll keep you posted.
