As the second goal went in for Chelsea on Saturday, the cameras wheeled around to Roman Abramovich, who was clapping and grinning. It is a picture we have seen a hundred times over the years and the response of the commentator was equally familiar. “That will make the owner happy,” he said. There is nothing wrong with this. Nothing wrong with an owner taking pleasure in his team’s success. Nothing wrong with a TV camera picking up on the moment. Indeed, this is the stuff of football. How many times have you heard it before: “Abramovich will be celebrating tonight!”; “That’s put a smile on Roman’s face!”; “Even the owner is dancing a jig!”
It is not what is said that troubles me, however; it