Craig Bellamy has temporarily stepped down from his role as Cardiff City under-18 coach to allow the club to investigate claims he bullied young players. The former striker denies the allegations and Twm Owen argues some time for reflection could be beneficial all round.
The first weekend of the year will have been an unusual one for Craig Bellamy who rather than being involved in a football match will probably have found himself reflecting on his career and the past year.
In the space of 12 months Bellamy has gone from being interviewed for his “dream job” as Wales manager to announcing he was, voluntarily, stepping aside from his job as Cardiff City’s under-18 coach while the club investigates allegations of bullying young players.
The 39-year-old, who “categorically” denies the allegations against him, has spent almost every weekend, man and boy, directly involved in football at some level – but now his post playing career has at least stalled if not been derailed. Once Welsh football’s wild child, Bellamy had seemingly matured, as a man, and as a player to become a diligent pundit and promising coach.
In a twist that could almost seem made for the English tabloid press the passionate Welshman, known as one of the most temperamental players to have appeared in England’s top flight in recent years, is accused of “xenophobic” behaviour towards, at least one, young English player.
Whatever the truth of the allegations Bellamy, who even with his well-publicised previous run ins with authority, has dedicated his career to continual personal improvement and high standards. He may well find that asking himself some soul-searching questions, and facing scrutiny of his approach to managing players, will, whatever the outcome of the club investigation that appears to involve at least two former players, improve him as a coach and leader.
But Bellamy isn’t the only one who could benefit from some time for reflection. As soon as the allegations emerged, via the Daily Mail, those with no more knowledge of the situation than what they had just read were quick to condemn or exonerate. The former Wales captain has a collection of clubs that rivals any professional golfer and he divides opinion, from east London to Glasgow, accordingly.
Claims Bellamy had turned the volume off the television when God Save the Queen was played as his squad watched an England World Cup game were easy to laugh off for many of his countrymen. That such an action could amount to “bullying” was laughable to many who never stopped to consider the context – and was all the proof that was needed for others who never wished to question the veracity of the allegations.
Bellamy’s friend, and best man, David Bishop is said to have replied “That sh*t ain’t my anthem,” when asked by his Great Britain coach why he had stayed silent as he and his teammates lined up for that same song ahead of a rugby league international.
In that context the legendary scrum half’s response is hardly offensive – it’s amusing and easy to admire the defiance of the proud Welshman. However if Bellamy, in a position of responsibility and as a leader, turned the sound down, as alleged, the context and the power, of more than the TV remote, in the situation can easily shift.
But for many of those who rushed to support Bellamy, deploying the inevitable defence of “banter”, the time and place and appropriateness was never a consideration, or seemingly how similar behaviour might be viewed in their own workplace.
Anyone who was offended could be easily dismissed as a “snowflake” and the players “self-entitled millennials”. With easy buzz words at hand there is no need to consider the power structures in football, or any working relationship, where the employee may feel a boss’ words, and humour, can never be questioned.
The harsh world of football, where many seem to think young men need to be primed for a battle-hardened life, simply doesn’t have time to pander to the sensitive or so it seems.
While Cardiff City’s investigation will hopefully resolve the allegations a little probing of our own attitudes and responses to the issues being examined in the executive offices at the Cardiff City Stadium would be a good use of our own time as well.
