A rotten day for the beautiful game: Johan Cruyff’s death, Adam Johnson’s digrace

Down at the Riverside
Sixer celebrates Johan Cruyff’s life

On the second name in the headline, Pete Sixsmith is rightly brief and disapproving. To the first, he devotes many more words, of tribute this time, to a man who personified all that can be good about football. Ordinarily, reflections on the death of Cruyff from cancer at just 68 and the six-year jail sentence handed out to Johnson would not occupy the same space. Only coincidence dictates otherwise – and, after striking just the right tone on both, Pete also has some salutary words for Chris Sutton, who spoke this week of how wretched life must be as a Sunderland supporter …

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