Is Craig Bellamy the dimmest man on the face of the earth? His move to Liverpool was a slightly risky one on Rafa’s part, but we can all presume that he thought Bellamy may pull his finger out and keep his head down as his stint at Liverpool would probably be his last chance to play for a big club. Why his last chance? Well, his reputation precedes him doesn’t it? So why is he a half-wit?
It would seem that Bellamy has come unstuck by some drunken misbehaviour once again. The Welshman is facing a heavy fine and an uncertain future after a night out allegedly concluded with the forward using a golf club to beat the shit out of John Arne Riise.
Riise, who seemingly sustained bruises to his legs, was able to train alongside Bellamy yesterday and may receive a lesser punishment. He could well be joined on the Anfield roll of shame by Jermaine Pennant, Jerzy Dudek and Robbie Fowler, who all face club sanctions after police intervention was required to quell that trio’s alcohol-fuelled antics.
Rafa’s squad flew to Portugal to train before their big game at the Nou Camp when they play the troubled camp of Barcelona. After five days of training BenÃtez allowed his players to let their hair down on Thursday night at the Vale do Lobo resort. Error. An internal club investigation is now under way but no conclusions are anticipated until the squad’s return from Barcelona.
"I met this morning with the entire first-team squad and made it absolutely clear to all of them the responsibilities that come with playing for this club and the way they are expected to conduct themselves both on and off the pitch," said BenÃtez, who may well give Bellamy the boot and sell him to the highest bidder in summer.
"The players worked extremely hard at last week’s training camp," added the Liverpool manager. "But we will take disciplinary action and fine any of them who are found to have breached club rules during our stay in Portugal. I’ve told the players this and they understand and accept the decision I have taken. Despite reports to the contrary, the spirit among the lads is very good with everyone looking forward to the Barcelona game."
The fight which culminated with a pitching wedge and some thudding noises seemingly started with a karaoke competition in the early hours of Friday morning, when the pea brained Bellamy took offence at the Norwegian left-back’s refusal to sing.
Increasingly irritated by the Welshman’s jibes, Riise reportedly became incandescent and, surrounded by fellow players, the pair squared up to each other telling each other to go forth and procreate. Bellamy apparently felt he had lost face in front of his team-mates and, having armed himself with a golf club, tracked down Riise before allegedly swinging it at his legs.
Amongst all this golf club nonsense, the police were called to step in to calm Pennant, Fowler and Dudek, with the latter apparently particularly boisterous. Nevertheless newspaper reports that a policeman was head-butted and extensive damage caused are claimed to be "well wide of the mark and wildly exaggerated". I bet new owners of Liverpool – George Gillett and Tom Hicks – are thrilled to bits eh?
Bellamy’s CV of shame:
February 2002 Receives a caution for hitting a woman in a nightclub
March 2003 Charged with racially aggravated harassment outside a nightclub but later acquitted
March 2004 Throws a chair at John Carver, Newcastle’s assistant manager
January 2005 Fined £80,000 by Graeme Souness for calling him a liar
April 2005 Abuses former Newcastle team-mate, Alan Shearer, by text
September 2006 Rows in tunnel with Newcastle coach Terry McDermott
November 2006 Bellamy cleared of assaulting teenage girl in a nightclub
[Mof Gimmers]