Jamie Redknapp has given his backing to Newcastle United star Matt Ritchie after the Scottish international celebrated his late equaliser against former side Bournemouth on Saturday afternoon.
The 29-year-old wing-back hit a stunning volley deep into to added time at the Vitality Stadium to tie the game up at 2-2, and to salvage a precious point for the Magpies.
Ritchie celebrated wildly in front of the Cherries’ faithful, but Redknapp sees no issue with his passion.
Writing in his column for the Daily Mail, he said: “I have no problem with Matt Ritchie celebrating his goal at Bournemouth.
“He may have spent four successful seasons on the south coast but his only focus now is securing Newcastle’s Premier League status.
“It is right that he should want to celebrate with the fans who had made the 350-mile trip down. I’d rather that than Ryan Babel’s non-celebration for Fulham against former club Liverpool!”
OPINION
Redknapp is bang on the money here. In the first instance, it has to be said that this is goal so good that it would be absolutely criminal not to celebrate it. Secondly, this is a last minute equaliser that wins a potentially vital point for your side after a hard-fought, topsy-turvy encounter, and it’s only natural to go mad after pulling off something like that. Most importantly, however, it’s a matter of respect. Yes, you can argue that Ritchie celebrating against his old side – the club the gave him his chance in the Premier League and paid his wages for four years – is disrespectful, but wouldn’t it be more disrespectful to his current employers, and to the travelling contingent of Geordies who have made the 350 mile trip from one end of the country to the other, to simply walk back to the centre circle as if nothing has happened? By doing that you would be all but admitting that your loyalty to your old club is stronger than your allegiance to your current one, and that, in the grand scheme of things, would be a lot worse.
