SICK IMAGES OF THE WEEK

AS PER my previous blog, I'm about to sit down to watch the Champions League Final more than an hour after it kicked off.

There's something lovely about being able to put your children to bed in relaxed fashion knowing you can enjoy the match in style later as if it's live.

Meanwhile, I've been thinking...

There have been a lot of unfortunate images on our screens in the past ten days.

These have frequently been introduced by the newsreaders saying: 'You may find some of the images disturbing'. Too right.

There would have to be something wrong with you if you didn't find the pictures of floating corpses in Burma distressing.

Or the plight of the earthquake victims in China.

But what I found really galling was the footage of Rangers' so-called fans going on the rampage after last week's UEFA Cup Final.

Instead of celebrating their team's achievement in reaching the final, and the fact they were in good health to be able to enjoy it, some of them had nothing better to do than to cause serious trouble, including kicking a policeman when he was on the ground.

What would these people do if a burglar broke into their house while they were asleep? Not call the police because they are so tough?

What if one of their children or relatives was kidnapped? Would they not want the police to help them then? Or if they had broken down on the M6 and were stranded?

As I sit down to watch Man United v Chelsea, memories come flooding back of the night I prepared to watch the 1985 final between Liverpool and Juventus at Heysel, a game which went ahead in a vacuum after 39 fans were killed.

I was living in Kings Heath at the time and I'll never forget that night. Twenty three years ago... unbelievable.

Whatever happens in the match tonight I just hope it's a good game.

I don't care whether Chelsea or Manchester United win.

And neither, really, should fans of either team as long as they enjoy the experience and return home safely after seeing their boys give their best in a sporting manner.

There were just two arrests at the Portsmouth v Cardiff City FA Cup Final which is great news.

All that matters tonight is that English football does itself justice and puts on a game to entertain the world, so fingers crossed.

Here we go....