Pretty amazing thing happened in the mixed zone after the game. Apparently a few English players accused Abby Wambach of intentionally elbowing Faye White in the nose. The English media picked up on it, especially the BBC, and grilled Wambach and other players about it. Anyone who saw the incident on replay saw that Wambach was in the process of spinning around White and caught her totally by accident. Wambach was not even looking at White when elbow met nose. The referee didn’t call a foul nor did she give a yellow card. Wambach tried to apologize when White returned to the match. Understandably, White was a bit miffed on the field, but did the English trainer have to swear at Abby as well? Wambach handled herself very well during the interviews, and truth be told, White is a classy player and person. But seriously folks, it was an accident. Abby apologized. Then the reporter said that several English players saw Abby “low-five” with Kristine Lilly after the incident, as if she was congratulating her for decking the England captain, which of course, did not happen. Now we know the true meaning of “tabloid journalism.”
Saturday, September 22, 2007
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http://www.soccersam.com/media/audio/20070922.mp3
Abby spoke about this topic when she did a post-game interview on the radio in her hometown yesterday.
It starts about 5 minutes in.
It was definitely not on purpose, but I guess it makes more British tabloids saying that it was...
I thought it was nice of Abby to ask White if she was ok after she got back on the field: True sportsmanship!:)
I read about the accusations in an article (on Yahoo I think) and the first thing that came to mind was "ridiculous!" Abby is way too talented and classy to do something like that on purpose! The English media just wanted something else to write about besides 'our team lost'. As for the English team and trainer I'm sure it was just misplaced frustration over the loss, after all their hearts were in it too.
I'm a little bit English, so let me just say that British tabloids should simply be ignored by sensible folks ;)
I guess feelings were pretty low because the English love their footie, and the media had just started paying attention to the women's national team, and that's when things started getting out of hand and a scapegoat was needed.
Everyone who really paid attention to the match will know that it was definitely, without the tiniest bit of doubt, an accident.
I was wondering why White was gunning for her the whole rest of the game. Did you see her totally ignore Abby when she went up to apologize? She must have been convinced it was on purpose. The "low-five" probably didn't help, but they're always low-fiving each other. From the replay, I know it was accidental. But White's shoving Abby the rest of the game, definitely intentional.
I didnt see the low five (camera was following play with smith to sideline), but I am sure it had to do with the attempted shot on goal abby took right after her unintentional contact with white.
White should be careful of making untrue public statements. In the us and the Uk she could expose herself to an action for slander. Especially when she has no firsthand knowledge of the event (basing her comments on hearsay from her teamates).
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