Bullying Clarkson deserved to get the boot

The Top Gear presenter has learnt the hard way that nobody, however famous, can get away with breaking the rules

Of course, he brought it on himself, but perhaps without knowing it. There is something about a male in the twilight of his pomp, his testosterone flagging, his knees aching, his prostate gypping, that longs both to go on and also to suddenly stop. To escape — above all — an anti-climax. Just last weekend the veteran Liverpool captain Steven Gerrard, in his last season at the club and in his last match against their bitter rivals Manchester United, ended up getting himself sent off after 38 seconds on the pitch. In the World Cup final of 2006 the fabulous French captain, Zinedine Zidane — with the match tied and in the 110th minute of what he had already said would be his last international