pork pie fox
Well-Known Member
Don't understand why people are getting so worked up about a player just trying to showboat and entertain the crowd, especially in a friendly. I'd like more of that kind of thing myself.
I do understand what you mean PR and I agree with many things you post. However, I disagree a bit in this instance. Man City are trying to be taken seriously as a club these days as one of the big boys and to me this looks a bit like someone not giving the game the respect needed. I can't imagine a Man Utd player doing the same for instance.
There is also the impact on the MLS, who are desperately trying to prove themselves as a legitimate sport in America. If their teams are playing against top European sides (albeit in friendlies) then they are trying to prove to their potential audience that they should see it as a viable league to go and watch, whereas Balotelli doing what he did implies that our sides don't see these games of being worthy of doing things properly and therefore it could be detrimental to the growth of football in the US. I'm sure the Galaxy didn't appreciate it at all.