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MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009
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 SWINE FLU PANIC 
7

Soccer Stars Told to Quit Spitting

Health officials fear they'll spread flu, kids will imitate them

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(Newser) – British health officials are scolding Premier League footballers for spitting on the pitch. With swine flu outbreaks already confirmed at Bolton Wanderers and Blackburn Rovers, the HPA fears players' rampant habit of spitting could spread the disease. “It's unhygienic and unhealthy,” says an HPA spokesman. “Footballers, like the rest of us, wouldn't spit indoors so they shouldn't do it on the football pitch."

Blackburn boss Sam Allardyce caused big waves this week when he said that his club probably passed the flu on to Chelsea, and lambasted the league for making them play. But the HPA isn’t just worried about players’ health. “It’s about setting examples for the young people who idolize them,” says the spokesman. “Spitting is disgusting at all times.”

Chelsea's Didier Drogba scores during their match against Blackburn Rovers at Stamford Bridge, Saturday. Blackburn Manager Sam Allardyce fears Chelsea's players may have gotten swine flu in the game.
Chelsea's Didier Drogba scores during their match against Blackburn Rovers at Stamford Bridge, Saturday. Blackburn Manager Sam Allardyce fears Chelsea's players may have gotten swine flu in the game.   (AP Photo/Matt Dunham)
Austria's Andreas Ivanschitz spits water during the friendly soccer match against Nigeria in this file photo.
Austria's Andreas Ivanschitz spits water during the friendly soccer match against Nigeria in this file photo.   (AP Photo/Hans Punz)
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7 comments
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gabo
Oct 28, 09 8:38 AM CDT
Hell, that's the most exciting thing about the game. Reply
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-4
Janniel
Oct 28, 09 9:17 AM CDT
Quit spitting...good advice for any self-respecting person. Reply
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+2
Forderon
Oct 28, 09 10:45 AM CDT
Good. I'm glad this stopped in baseball too. Remember how much they used to spit in the 90s and 80s? In soccer, the worst is when they blow their nose on the field. These people are supposed to be more "civilized" than us? Reply
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0
IN RESPONSE:
Yourself
Oct 28, 09 12:25 PM CDT
who said anything about civility? no one ever said athletes are more civilized, infact they're often much more barbaric. The sport that needs better sterilizing is MMA and wrestling. As for the spitting in soccer, bring back the spittoons! that's what they were invented for after all.
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0
newsrmandan
Oct 28, 09 1:05 PM CDT
oh please, some of the things you say to the other players deserves a little mouth washing. Its not spitting. Reply
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