Hazard is not the only problem

After researching on Hazard's kick on the "poor" ball boy, I'm disappointed that many people wrote selfish things like "I would have done worse myself". You know what, that's why you are not involved in professional sports. And if you are, you should be ashamed of yourself. Like the commentator named Steve Nicol on SoccerNet.com that said exactly that. Backing off from "condoning the act", he said exactly the same thing. I would love to see him fired from all sporting positions for being unsportsmanlike on air.

Here is what is wrong with Hazard's action:

1. Violent conduct, no matter towards whoever on the pitch. It's a ball boy, but is it that different from doing the same act to a Swansea player? The referee did the right thing
2. Time wasting is done by all teams and it is accounted for in time added on, so Hazard has no business doing what he did
3. Getting involved with a ball boy is bad enough, he is showing kicking him by the side. I only remember crooks on TV kicking downed people on the mid section. Instead of stamping hooliganism in England, Steve Nicol is suggesting allowing it on the field? No matter what the intent was, the Marcotti said it right, it is unacceptable. There is a reason there are fouls given against dangerous play because no matter the intent, getting someone hurt is not one of them.
4. If a team is baiting him to vent his anger with violent acts, he definitely should not be a footballer if he takes the bait so easily. Besides, all teams use tactics best for themselves, even time wasting, and the referee is the only one on the pitch that is allowed to punish such acts. Hazard should let his skills do the talking, not by kicking someone, even if it did not connect with someone.
5. Don't give me the bullshit that the ball boy is wasting time. In NFL, teams play to control the clock, read, wasting opponent's time by hogging the ball. Same thing in football. Same thing for all teams in the world.
6. As much as it is barely assault, it is assault. Assault is a hooligan's way of playing football, even to a ball boy. What do we do to players who assault referees? Other players? Fans? Ball boys?

While I can understand that Hazard is frustrated, he is paid millions to take the pressure. Not only is his act silly, but it is also very pathetic. Unlike Cantona, he kicked a man who is already down. I don't suppose this is as bad as Cantona but I expect a lengthy ban for him. Of course, Hazard is nowhere near Cantona, nor is his farce nearly as significant, spectacular or dramatic. I think it should be a month's ban just to make sure that Hazard learns from this. After all, I know its like a fight between a 22 yr old vs. a 17 yr old.

On the other hand, Nicol has the luxury to see the whole thing on his comfy chair. I expect higher intellect from someone who does not have to face the winter cold to fight from 2 goals down to talk about the game. Furthermore, its not like he has the anonymity of the internet where hooligans can just post something and run away under the cloak of privacy. I don't need him to tell people who watch football how much he condones hooliganism. I'm sickened that someone of such caliber works on a website I frequent. Football do not need hooligans on TV, internet or on the field. So I'm going to say the same thing, did we do so much to kick hooliganism out of football stands that we allow them on the field and in TV?