We could drive ourselves mad trying to answer the great philosophical question of what came first, professional athletes or the fans whose fandom essentially pays their enormous salaries.
However, there is no argument that can condone stupid fan behaviour. Nor is there a position condoning athletes getting into a contest of ‘My sport’s harder than yours’, or ‘So what if a fan runs onto your tennis court, we have it much worse in cycling’.
Fans need to be better behaved at sporting events. It’s that simple. No one wants to attend a sporting event behind glass barriers and nor should it get to that. But, it’s up to fans to be responsible and respectful to the athletes they are watching.
In the last few weeks, the Giro d’Italia and the French Open have highlighted how the acts of an irresponsible few can have severe effects on athletes and further down the line, on fans.
So far, the Giro has had two crashes caused by spectators. The first of these crashes on Stage 2, frighteningly saw a spectator attempt to ride into the peloton and join in the race to the finish line.
The second spectator caused crash on Stage 6 left Nippo-Vini Fantini rider, Daniele Colli with a horrifically broken arm. The crash occurred in the final straight when a spectator lent over the barrier to take a photo.
Watching crazy fans trying to ‘help’ their favourite rider up a steep climb often ends with them being on the end of a cyclist’s clenched fist, and although I don’t condone violence, I do sympathise with the rider.
Sadly, crashes caused by spectators in cycling are all too common. There is little doubt that these crashes must cause cyclists some level of psychological angst every time they head out.
With this in mind, British cyclist, Chris Froome’s response to Federer’s anger about a court invader, is somewhat perplexing. Shouldn’t Froome, who going by the picture he tweeted of a fan running beside him, be more understanding to Federer’s frustrations?
Harden up @rogerfederer pic.twitter.com/WleIPLFMnb
— Chris Froome (@chrisfroome) May 24, 2015
The accompanying caption ‘Harden up Federer’ was antagonistic and pointless.
In the tweet that preceded this, Froome makes the point that a kid wanting a selfie is much less worrying than the fans that line Alpe d’Huez and while this may be so, it misses the point.
Wonder what RF would have to say about ASO security on Alpe d'Huez?Give me a couple of kids wanting selfies any time https://t.co/rl75BDzYJo
— Chris Froome (@chrisfroome) May 24, 2015
Unlike cycling, tennis isn’t usually associated with fans physically encroaching on the player’s turf. Perhaps this is why cyclists have built up a greater resilience to fan invasions and yes, a fan stepping in front of a hurtling peloton is likely to have far worse consequences than a kid wanting a selfie with Federer.
However, fan invasions are not always about harmless selfies. The image of Monica Seles trying to clutch at her back after being stabbed courtside in 1993 is indelibly etched into the minds of tennis fans. Seles was at the height of her powers and didn’t return to competitive tennis for two years.
Yes, athlete safety should be paramount to event organisers, but fans have to be responsible and respectful at sporting events.
One of the best things about tennis tournaments, including the Grand Slams, is that fans can get quite close to their idols. They can watch them practice and most of the players spend time signing autographs at the end of practice sessions. Hopefully the actions of one silly teenager will not jeopardise this for future fans.
Like it or not, cycling cannot put up spectator barriers for hundreds of kilometres, but tennis tournaments can offer players better protection from fans. This protection can only go so far and putting the onus back on the fans to behave responsibly is crucial.
Federer has every right to be angry about the court invasion at the end of his first round match at Roland Garros. Just as Chris Froome has every right to be angry about selfish spectators who can destroy a cyclist’s career, let alone race.
But antagonising tennis players and fans is not only pointless, it diverts the issue of poor fan behaviour and tries to suggest the issue here is poor athlete behaviour.
The concern facing professional athletes such as Froome and Federer is that not all fans are after an innocent selfie or autograph.
Further to this, jumping the barriers and entering the courts is as unacceptable as cycling fans jumping on the road in front of the peloton. As such the response from professional cyclists shouldn’t be one of ‘my sport’s worse than yours, so stop moaning’. Rather Froome should have taken this opportunity to highlight the need for spectator behaviour to improve across all sports.
Fans running onto a tennis courts is a rare occurrence but it is not an occurrence that should be scoffed at.
Roger Federer doesn’t need to “Harden up,” and for that matter nor does Chris Froome or any other cyclist.
Fans need to stay in the stands or on the side of the road and Roger Federer should have been given more support and understanding from someone who should know better than most the danger of over zealous fans.
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