AFTER ROY HODGSON was caught telling tube passengers that Rio Ferdinand’s England career was over earlier this week, we decided to revisit seven other similar circumstances when sports stars were left red-faced.
1. The fake sheikh
Sven Goran Eriksson naively revealed his plans to leave the England job to the News of the World’s ‘fake sheikh’ in 2006. Of course, it was not the only time Eriksson was caught out in an embarrassing fashion, as Ulrika Johnson will attest. Such revelations led to the Swede being routinely mocked by satirists such as Alistair McGowan (see below).
YouTube credit: BBCWorldwide
2. Tiger Woods affairs
The US golfer was left reeling, after a string of revelations regarding his private life emerged, including details of numerous extra-marital affairs.
YouTube credit: PublicApologyCentral
3. Kevin Pietersen’s texts
Kevin Pietersen became embroiled in controversy earlier in the year, having sent a number of ill-advised texts, which were said to have included unflattering comments about Andrew Strauss, among other things.
YouTube credit: Oscars2013
4. The England rugby team’s post-World Cup fallout
A leaked report highlighted the level of disillusionment within the England set-up, following their disappointing 2012 Rugby World Cup campaign. “There wasn’t enough focus on basic skills,” complained one anonymous player, while another bluntly stated that “the man-management was absolutely terrible”.
YouTube credit: NMATV
5. Mark Kennedy and Phil Babb
Mark Kennedy and Phil Babbb were both fined and dropped from the Ireland squad for their much-publicised rowdy antics during a night-out in Dublin. Below is a video of Kennedy in happier times, scoring against Iceland.
YouTube credit: rooney2cantona
6. Michael Phelps smoking marijuana
Michael Phelps was seen as the golden boy of US swimming following his phenomenally successful performances at the Beijing Olympics. However, this image was tarnished somewhat, after pics of him allegedly smoking marijuana were exposed.
YouTube credit: edmikey
7. Andy Powell ill-conceived buggy drive
In 2010, Poweell encountered controversy not for the first or last time in his career, after he allegedly took and drove away a golf buggy towards services off junction 33 of the M4. The player has also been criticised for his on-field performances at times, and the video below illustrates why.
YouTube credit: LasGarzas11
This guy is completely overratted
@jay bernard: don’t know how he warrants a contract of that size given his achievements in the game. He needs to start scoring regularly especially if the Wissam Ben Yedder rumours are true. WBY is a real fox in the box, Deschamps really rates him.
Best goal tally for 21 and under in the EPL, La Liga & Seria A in what was a shocking season under two different managers. 200k going to 300k based on incentives. Manchester born and bred. He’ll turn out to be some player yet
An absolute joke.
It’s 200k a week max as per Simon Stone – reliable United journo
@Brian: and you think that even £200,000 is acceptable for a player that scored 10 league goals last season. He’s English!!! He has been overhyped and overrated since they Day he broke into the first team by the British press, £200,000 per week for a very average player that would be more suited to playing for a team like Newcastle, Everton or Southampton. Mid table player at best, that shouldn’t be earning anything over 100,000 never mind 200,000 or 300,000.
@Devilsavocado: And eventually he will be destroyed by the British press too, I wish Utd would sell him on now
Beans Beans Beans
@Alan Brazil: is all you eat. Stand well back!
The club is a circus. Run by clowns who aren’t football men
@munsterman: and if you look at the nonsense that ich bin Brendan has been scribbling up there, it seems they are supported by a few clowns as well…..
@Devilsavocado: haha! G!mp
@Ich bin brendan: come on,, seriously mate, you really don’t believe the nonsense that you were writing in your previous posts do you?? There isn’t a club that finished in the top 5 above Utd that the lad would get into as a first team player. Not a single club that will be in the champions league next year had a bit of interest in buying him, he’s at best a bench player for Utd, but a 200,000 a week bench player??? WTF is going on at Utd that they offered that much money to him?? Where else was he going to go, they easily could have halved that and even then he should still consider himself lucky to be wearing the Utd jersey,, come on, I can’t be the only one who sees this….
@Devilsavocado: quit looking for validation. I’ll correct myself in that he didn’t score v pool in their 3-1 spanking but everything stated is fact inc. turning the best rb inside out and scoring in every debut. Barcelona were being touted as making an official approach, how much of that is being true is as truthful to say not a single team were, it would take a team of that stature to pull a local lad away from his local team. Apart from Kane for Spurs there isn’t a top 5 team that would produce an academy player like him. 200,000K is daft money but that’s the state of the club atm, not many want the Glazers there but that’s what they’re working with. I’m delighted he’s there for another 4 yrs, he’s got the wage now it’s upto him to start earning it, I believe he will.
@Ich bin brendan: ok fair enough, you have your opinion on the matter and people that actually know a bit about football have there’s. Let’s be honest here, I doesn’t matter that your opinion is obviously that of a delusional fan that can’t look at things without your fan glasses on but that’s ok,, we will leave it there and I’ll let you get back to your colouring book and crayons, there’s a good boy,, don’t stay up to late… :) validate myself, ha ha ha ha ha..
@Devilsavocado: “that actually know a bit about football” you have me stumped, you’ve trouble validating your opinionated drivel. “Ha ha ha” like I said before, G!mp
He’s got to start delivering on his promise . A lot of cash for a man still not scoring regularly but he does have the potential to be an absolute world class player I just hope he does start getting 30 odd goals a season .
On his debut he’s scored 2 in the EPL, same in his Europa, 1 Champions league and on his derby debut. Also turned the best rb in the country inside out to score against their biggest rivals, with the golden glove winner in goal!
@Ich bin brendan: can throw in his debut in the EFL & FA Cup as well. So every cup comp available to him. Calling him over rated is being bias, he’s proven he’s capable, needs consistency with age.
Reminds me of Ian Rush
His nose is offside
Even as a man utd fan, I think he doesn’t deserve this, prove your worth then get the money, he didn’t prove anything last season to deserve half this money.