Godfather Of Champions

Was the farce considered over when Riley blew the ending whistle of the match?

No, far from it.

The match had ended, but Riley still ran to the sidelines and gave the two assistant managers who clashed—Kerslake and Dillon—a red card each. Although fouling people after the match was no longer something new, it was uncommon.

Upon seeing such a scene, even the match commentator was at a loss for words. “Riley must be mad.”

“Six red cards! 20 yellow cards! A crazy, card-giving machine!”

After that, the four referees on duty had to leave the field under tight protection of security. Otherwise, it was hard to say if they would be ripped to shreds by the enraged Forest fans.

The reporters waited at the mixed zone for the interviews but quickly discovered that no one would stop to say a few words about the match. Helpless, they could only move to the press conference instead.

Unexpectedly, Tang En and Coppell still appeared. Both were present despite having experienced such a terrible situation. However, the expressions of the two were filled with hostility. Neither of them made a move to shake their hands in a show of friendliness.

Without waiting for the press officer to announce the commencement of the press conference, Tang En snatched the microphone and said, “I feel extremely regretful about this match despite having won the game. I don’t wish to say whose fault this is, because everyone has already seen it. Despite the match devolving into this, I believe there is not a single thing my players can be faulted for. They have already done enough. I am proud of their performance.”

Hearing this, Coppell could not help but interrupt, “Proud of that punch from George Wood?”

Tang En continued looking at the reporters without turning to the side. He lashed out, “Obviously, it isn’t pride for Hunt’s knees! I regret that George Wood didn’t pummel that b*stard into a concussion! Why, Mr. Coppell, do you feel proud of Hunt?”

“Watch your words, Tony Twain!” Coppell and Tang En could never see eye-to-eye to begin with. It was like watching two dogs fight each other whenever they met. “It was only an accident! It’s very normal to have accidents like that on the field!”

“Accident, my f*cking *ss! Tang En abruptly stood and burst out, “That’s malicious harm! It’s on purpose! Otherwise, why didn’t that b*stard jump? Instead, he lowered his own gravity and placed his knees right at the height of Paul Gerrard’s head? Have you ever f*cking seen people use their knees to snatch balls?”

This was turning out like some kind of verbal battle on the streets. The group of reporters did not bother asking questions. They watched the fight quietly and joyfully.

“Save your lambasting at Wood. I’d tell you, Steve Coppell. If it wasn’t for Hunt’s malicious collision, George would have never punched that b*stard. It’s that simple. Since the main referee, Mr. Riley, was blind, my players are only representing him in carrying out the punishments. That fool of a referee didn’t even give any verbal warning for this sort of malicious and absolutely inhumane foul? Were his referee qualifications bought?!” Tang En’s mouth was like a Gatling gun. He questioned, reproached, and blasted them with swear words, not giving Coppell any opportunity to retaliate. “The match becoming like this—20 yellow cards and six red cards! This is the player’s fault? It’s that f*cking useless referee’s fault! FA ought to terminate that r*tard for life! Not daring to give out cards when faced with the opponent’s rowdy fouling, being overly cautious like a sissy without b*lls. And then, waiting until discovering that the situation wasn’t right before madly giving out cards to destabilize the situation even more—is that what a main referee is supposed to do? Even a secondary school sports teacher would do better than him! I finally know why English referees in the German World Cup make so many low-level mistakes!”

After scolding his opponents, Tang En aimed his nozzle at the English FA as well as the main referee. This time, he was going to become a public enemy.

It was not hard to tell how enraged Tang En was in that moment.

“My player is now lying in the hospital, hanging between life and death!” Tang En pointed to the sky. “But the culprit remains free, at large! The one who put the guilty party up to it is still at my side, being unreasonable and refusing to take responsibility for it. The referee on duty is useless and afraid, knowing nothing other than pulling out cards from his *ss without any pause. How about you give me a reason why I shouldn’t be angry!?” he said to the reporters.

Pierce Brosnan originally wanted to wake Tang En up from his violent state of anger, intending to ask questions that could change the topic, such as about next round’s League match. But, realizing that the question might only be adding fuel to the fire, the hand he raised midway was withdrawn again.

After finishing his venting, Tang En no longer wanted to be in the same place as Coppell. Without saying a goodbye, he turned and left.

Seeing Tang En turn to leave the stage, Coppell also left from the other direction with an unhappy face. No matter how the reporters called after him, he paid them no heed.

※※※

After departing from the stadium, Tang En did not follow the team back to the hotel they were staying at. Instead, he directly headed to the Royal Hospital of Nottingham University.

He met Professor Constantine at the doors of the building. The professor was exiting the building in a hurry and did not see Tang En.

“Professor!” Tang En shouted.

“Tony?” Constantine was unsurprised to see Tang En here. “You’re here.”

“Yes. How’s the situation?”

“In a coma.”

“Does he need surgery?” Tang En asked.

“No.” Constantine shook his head. “This is good news.”

Tang En sighed in relief, and then thought about the bad news. “Would there be any adverse effects from this?”

“It’s hard to tell now.” Constantine took off his glasses. “We will only know after he wakes up. I can’t give you a guarantee about if he can return to the field. Even normal day-to-day living may need some time for further testing.”

Tang En thought about Čech. His head sustained a depressed fracture from the hit, but he still made through it in the end. Not only did he survive, he even went back to being Chelsea’s main goalkeeper.

“He’ll be alright,” Tang En said, nodding.

Constantine felt odd about how Tang En was suddenly so confident again.

“It’s my instincts.” Tang En smiled as he pointed to his head. “I believe he’ll be alright.”

Constantine interpreted it as being a way for Tang En comfort himself, so he just smiled along.

“You’ve won the match, right?” To prevent the atmosphere from being awkward, Constantine tried changing topics. He did not expect the topic to make it worse.

“We won.” Tang En’s face darkened.

“Uh. I didn’t watch the match. I was directly called in to handle this. What happened?”

“Watch the news later, Prof. There’s a good show to watch.” He patted Constantine’s shoulder. “I’m heading off. See you. Oh, that’s right. If Paul awakens, call and let me know.”

Constantine nodded doubtfully. He was wondering about the other things that could have occurred during the match.

The answer was swiftly revealed. England’s news media was very advanced. Stories were available for purchase a mere half hour after the end of a match, usually brief introductions to the results and situation of the match. By night time, a variety of detailed articles would be available.

Constantine saw the news from the LCD television in front of the elevators in the hospital’s hall. Tony Twain’s verbal lashing during the news conference, filled with much swearing, appeared before him, taking him aback. He very rarely saw such an enraged Tang En.

After that, the news cut to a scene from the match, as well as the clash between both parties after it ended. Constantine watched with wide eyes, his mouth agape. Was BBC certain that this was the English Premier League and not the Middle-East war?

※※※

Two hours later, the scene of Tang En’s verbal lashing was transmitted to the millions of families in England. Everyone knew what had happened during and after the match.

By the next day, the news had already traveled across the world. The international football scene was shocked by such a rare occurrence of violence on the field.

Nottingham Forest Club took speedy action this time around. On the night of the match, they submitted a report against Reading FC’s lack of sportsmanship as well as the atrocious enforcement carried out by main referee on duty, Riley, to the English Football Association. This was the club’s response made under Tang En’s request. They wanted to take preemptive measures.

The next afternoon, the FA received another complaint that came from Reading FC. In the afternoon, FA’s personnel made an appointment to meet with main referee, Riley, hoping for him to give an explanation regarding his choice of enforcement during the match.

The sights of the media were entirely aimed towards London’s SOHO Square, where the English FA was located.

Hunt’s hurtful act was too vile. Even though George Wood purposely punched someone, sympathy points would be cast towards Nottingham Forest if the cause and reaction of it were taken into consideration. Especially after the publication of the follow-up report, wherein Paul Gerrard was revealed to still be in a coma, the people were moved. The public opinion began tilting against Reading FC.

Everyone in the English football scene knew that Reading FC’s football style in the current season was rowdy. So, when Tang En said that the responsibility fell on Reading FC, no one else showed any objection to it.

Before the FA finalized any result of the discussion of the matter, they first announced a small-scale warning in an attempt to stabilize the sentiments on both sides:

“We have already warned the players, Sonko, Ashley Young, and Seol Ki-hyeon, who were penalized during the match. In addition, we will be closely watching their performance in future matches.”

No one really cared about the fates of the small fish. They cared about the penalizations of Hunt, George Wood, as well as the two assistant managers who clashed verbally and physically after the match.

While the Football Association progressed with their analysis, the main managers of both parties did not idle. They continued the verbal battle over the media. By doing this, Tang En hoped to take the opportunity to pressure the FA. He wanted to see if the FA would still take Riley’s side. On the other hand, Coppell simply could not swallow the resentment of his personal grudge against Tang En, his team having lost the match, and three of his players getting penalized.

During this period, it was practically a festive season for the English media. Every day, they had some news to stir up. In fact, there were even English publishers that were planning to organize the content of what was said, by both parties throughout the issue, into a book.

Three days later, the English FA finally announced the finalized decision in dealing with the matter:

1. Main referee on duty, Riley, was to be banned from 10 matches due to a loss of control and misguidance of the match.

2. Reading FC’s player, Stephen Hunt, was barred from 10 matches and fined 35,000 pounds due to malicious fouling and causing loss of consciousness in the other party. In addition, within two years after the end of his suspension, the player would be under close supervision of the Football Association. Should there be any act of violent fouls in the field, the player would be further banned for 15 matches.

3. Nottingham Forest player, George Wood, was to be barred for eight matches and fined 25,000 pounds due to malicious fouling. Should there be similar acts of violence within a year, the player would be further barred for another 12 matches.

4. Nottingham Forest and Reading FC’s assistant managers, Kerslake and Dillon respectively, were to be each barred from four matches and fined 15,000 pounds due to acts stemming from lack of composure after the match.

5. Nottingham Forest’s main manager, Tony Twain, would be barred from three matches and fined 25,000 pounds due to his unjust accusations of the FA, intentions of interrupting the referee’s duty, as well as personal attacks on the opponents and lack of sportsmanship shown after the match.

6. Reading FC and Nottingham Forest were to be named and criticized for their lack of supervision over their players and fined 50,000 pounds.

7. Reading FC player, Seol Ki-hyeon was to be additionally barred for three matches and fined 15,000 pounds due to malicious fouling in an act of elbowing his opponents.

8. Penalty for players penalized during the match: Reading FC player Sonko and Nottingham Forest player Ashley Young, remain unchanged. Both players were to be barred for one match.

After the announcement of the results, it was declared by the media to be one of English FA’s most severe penalty ruling. Although there had long been the precedent of Eric Cantona’s eight-month match suspension for assaulting a fan with a kung-fu kick, this was a large-scale penalty imposed on several people at one time. It was truly one of the most severe instances.

It seemed like the FA’s intention to clamp down on acts of violence on the field was not just empty talk.

The media was filled with anticipation at the thought of Tang En again expressing his dissatisfaction after the announcement of the results, and then continuing to make a fuss for a period. That way, they would have even more news they could stir up. Unexpectedly, Tang En did not make any comment regarding the matter this time. He neither appealed against the results nor criticized the FA. He kept completely quiet on the issue.

No one knew what he was thinking, other than himself. In his opinion, the two that he hoped to be penalized the most were already punished. His aims were fulfilled, so there was no need to continue entangling in this problem. Both Riley and Hunt were barred for 10 matches. He finally managed to vent his resentment.

Even in the interviews with Forest’s players, everyone felt that Riley was the primary culprit of the whole matter. While Hunt’s foul was something unavoidable, Riley could have stopped the series of matters occurring after it if he had been smart enough. However, his poor performance had just made the situation worse. Forest’s players were all too happy to applaud seeing Riley being severely penalized.

Now, if Tang En was smart, he would avoid continuing the entanglement with the FA and Reading FC. Rather, he needed to pick up the pieces after the disaster. They were going to battle Arsenal in an away field very soon. Based on his currently crippled formation, what was the result going to be?

He did not even dare think about it.

Wenger, the old fox, would not let go of such a fabulous chance. Nottingham Forest’s trip to London boded ill. The only good news was that Tang En received Constantine’s call after the FA announced the final list of penalizations. Paul Gerrard had woken.

※※※

By the time the three—Tang En and the assistant managers Dunn and Kerslake—arrived at the hospital, the entrance to the ward was surrounded by several media groups. They had also rushed over when they received news of Gerrard regaining consciousness.

Tang En was filled with impatience when he got held back for interviews at the door. He only threw out a quick, “Now, Hunt can finally sleep well,” before quickly slipping in.

After the three entered the ward, the hospital staff shut the doors. The media groups who were hoping to continue snooping were chased out by the hospital’s security. The reporters clamored about how the hospital had no right to intervene with press freedom, and that they had the right to know about the truth, and so on. Professor Constantine looked down his nose as he scolded, “I don’t give a rat’s arse about your freedom. This is a hospital! I’m a doctor, so I have the right to ask everyone to get out! If you disrupt the recovery of my patient, I’m going to hold you all responsible!”

“Prof… Professor. You swore.” A young and beautiful nurse said this, covering her mouth in surprise. In her head, Professor Constantine, wearing his golden-framed glasses, was a polite and a well-mannered gentleman. He was the epitome of a good man. Although he was no longer young, he was still rather popular.

Constantine felt a little awkward. Having followed Tang En for so long, he unknowingly was affected by the problematic habit.

“But you are also charming when you act this way.” The nurse’s eyes practically had hearts leaping out of them.

It suddenly dawned on Constantine. Despite Tony Twain being perceived by the media as a demon with a tail and wings, horns on his head, a mouth of fire, and sharp teeth, it was little wonder why he was still considered the most coveted partner for a one-night-stand by female magazines.

※※※

“Head, Manager Kerslake, and Manager Dunn. Why are you here?” Paul Gerrard, in the midst of waiting for his wife to cut an apple for him, was surprised to see the three of them walking in.

“I heard you were awake, so I came to see you. Should we go?” Tang En pulled a chair over to sit by Gerard’s bedside.

“No, I’m just shocked. I didn’t expect…” Paul laughed, shaking his head lightly.

Seeing that Paul was shaking his head very slowly, Tang En pointed to his own head and asked. “How does it feel?”

“It still hurts from time to time,” Gerrard said, frowning but not shaking his head. It seemed like even shaking his head was a burden to him now.

Tang En kept a smile on his face, though his heart was finding it difficult. The situation did not seem as positive as he had imagined.

“How was the match, Head?” Gerrard asked.

“We won.” Tang En beamed. “1:0. We didn’t allow Coppell, the b*stard, to leave our home field with a smile.”

“That’s good. I thought I was going to die,” Gerrard muttered.

“How is that possible? Medicine is so advanced now; there won’t be problems. It’s only one collision. Look, aren’t you lying in bed chatting with us now?”

He fell silent for a while. Paul turned to ask the two assistant managers, “Can I still continue to play?”

Dunn said nothing while Kerslake’s smile looked reluctant. Tang En rescued them. “Of course! You only need to rest well, and you’ll come back! Think about the Romani boy. He was laying here for nine months. Didn’t he still return in the end?”

Eastwood’s experience was certainly a good inspirational story. A true-life example was in the same team as he was. Paul Gerrard had no reason to disbelieve it.

“Rest well and don’t think about anything else. I said to Eastwood before that the whole team was waiting for his return. Today, I’ll say the same thing to you. Paul, we’re waiting for you to come back.”

Seeing Gerrard’s teary eyes, Tang En stood and bowed slightly to Paul’s wife. “Please take good care of him, ma’am. Your husband is a great man.”

“We have to head to London tomorrow, so we’ll head out now.”

The three of them rose and said their goodbyes before pushing the door open to leave. Tang En saw Professor Constantine still standing by the doors and was surprised.

“Are you here as a door guard, Prof?”

The old man did not react to Tang En’s joke. As if he did not hear him speak, he said to Tang En, “I have something to discuss with you.”

Dunn, who was the furthest back, pulled the doors shut. Tang En took a few steps forward before turning to face Constantine.

“Is this good news or bad news? I’ve been asking this a lot recently.”

Constantine did not immediately answer, looking like he was in a bind.

“Alright. There’s no need to tell me anything, Prof.” Tang En waved his hand. “If it’s good news, leave it as a surprise for me. If it’s bad news, I don’t want to hear it.”

His words made Constantine smile again. “Alright, Tony. As you wish.”

“Let’s go. I’ll come by again after my return from London.” Tang En waved goodbye to Constantine. “Please take good care of him.”

“You can rest assured, Tony. And I wish you all good luck.”

Everyone needed some good luck.