Sorry Carling... booze has turned your tournament into the Snarling Cup

By Brian Reade

Published 21:59 30/10/09

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You've doubtless read this season of the stabbings at West Ham, the mass brawl in Carlisle, and the smashed-up buffet bar at Barnsley.

But did you realise all those games were in the Carling Cup? Why? Because, unlike Premier League matches, there are plenty of spare tickets, often at cheap prices, for those who've been priced-out or policed-out of top flight football. Hence a nice chance to re-live the hooly-glory days. Especially if, as Manchester United fans found this week, you're visiting a lesser team not used to coping with a big invasion.

And let's not forget another factor. Drink. They're night games, there's travelling, and these days booze is more freely available than ever. But what happens when it isn't available? Staff at Barnsley say the half-time riot began when they refused to serve fans beer. So a few decided to serve themselves, smashing and looting, along the way.

Meaning Carling's attack on the tanked-up United thugs makes less sense than a last-bus drunk: "Our sponsorships are intended to strengthen communities, by bringing people together for a sociable event. It is very disappointing that a small minority of so-called fans should spoil it for others." 

What garbage. They don't sponsor the competition to strengthen communities but to sell lots more drink to their target audience - young men with with spare cash who enjoy a macho, loadsalager culture.

You can't blame Carling for a few morons trying to drag football's name into the gutter. But you can blame their advertising (which is sponsorship) for coaxing young men to stagger into the gutter.

A bit of honesty in a serious debate wouldn't go amiss.