Sidney Govou, Party Animal?

February 27th, 2007 | by: Laurie |

How did I miss this last summer? Yes, I found it kind of odd that Sidney Govou, the hero of September’s France-Italy Euro ‘08 qualifier with two goals, wasn’t starting for his club at Lyon. But coaches can be quirky, and Sidney did break into the starting eleven before too long, so I kind of forgot about it.

Turns out the real reason was that the head honchos at Lyon considered our Sidney a bit too much of a party animal. (This led to him trying unsuccessfully to head to Spain during last summer’s transfer period.)

My article says Govou strikes out at “rumours which have suggested his private life is not ideal for a professional footballer.” And, “It has been intimated he is a little too fond of nightlife.”

Sidney Govou? How in the world did I miss this?

And the interesting part is that he doesn’t actually deny the rumors. Instead he says, “About my reveller image, it is what has been said inside the club that hurt me the most. Some told me to my face and I listened to them, the others only wanted to harm me.” And, “I have been naive and I should have protected my words. But I didn’t want to lie.” Interesting.

No details, of course. And there are all kinds of “nightlife” he could have been a little too fond of. Is anybody else as curious as I am?

So now I’m trying to figure out how (and yes, whether) to go back and research this. Do I want to pat him on the back for the fact that he seems to be at least mostly rehabilitated (?) and let this drop, or do I want to go wallow in the mud?

The blogger’s dilemma.

If I find out anything more, I’ll let you know.

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sandrahn

he can’t be as bad as Ronaldo (the one formerly at Real Madrid, now at Milan) – zidane famously called his parties “memorable” in a deliberate understatement
http://france.worldcupblog.org Laurie

Ah, yes, the supermodel parties. I’ve read about those. Vaguely, veiled, etc.

What I’m curious about is that there’s all kinds of “nightlife.” So are we talking alcohol and supermodels, or crystal meth and underage boys? Or somewhere in between? That’s what’s making me want to go fire up Google.fr.
sandrahn

Let me know what you find out! Inquiring minds and all that!
http://france.worldcupblog.org Laurie

Sandra, all I’m really discovering is that the French have a truly annoying aversion to revealing personal details. I’m considering pulling out my French slang books and seeing if Google.fr will offer up any blog posts on the topic. But I’m not particularly optimistic.

Let’s hope that when he does transfer out of Lyon he goes to England, because the English are not at all averse to revealing intimate details.

(Although the Portuguese Deco is probably now wishing that they were.)
http://france.worldcupblog.org/player-news/claude-makelele-interview.html#comments Pedro P

Hi Laurie! I’ve been missing you in the PT blog (for the ocasional gay comment, or the ocasional football comment)…

Aversion to revealing personal details in the norm in most latin countries, or cultures, as this simply expresses what our relashion with privacy is. It’s not the same everywhere. Don’t want to look like I’m intruding but I had to comment on this.

Personally, what I find annoying are the cultures that cannot accept (or understand) this difference and where “intrusive or moralist behaviour” or “exacerbated tendency to gossip and judge upon it” is mistaken for “opennsess”.

I don’t really think Deco is particulalry worried bout the english…

About your comment, I believe that now, like in the past, “party” means expensive places, expensive cars, gambling and betting, supermodels or whoever has access to those circles, and “the excesses” I imagine will be found aroud “this family”…

I don’t know if it involves young boys, but I have difficulty imagining crystal meth.
http://france.worldcupblog.org Laurie

Pedro, of course you’re not intruding. I agree with you that “exacerbated tendency to gossip and judge upon it” and openness are confused too much. The details provided by English tabloids make me queasy. (Seriously, I don’t need or want to know the state of Beckham’s private parts. OR all the gory details of Deco’s prostitute encounter. Which he may not care about, but his wife probably does.)

But on the other hand, if you’re going to bring it up, as with the Sidney Govou thing, give me at least a few details!! Don’t just leave my imagination to rev like a car stuck in neutral.

Paris and Britney notwithstanding, the US (mainstream) press mostly has a pretty fair balance. It’s folks like the bloggers (horrible people that they are) who croass the line.
http://france.worldcupblog.org/player-news/claude-makelele-interview.html#comments Pedro P

Hi Laurie. Just answered you down at PT and missed this one…

I don’t know anything about Deco’s story, but reading it for the second time, it all seems so poorly fabricated… Of course, it might be true but don’t worry. Brazilian women can defend themselves.

Here’s some (old) gossip…

Remember this guy? http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/M%C3%A1rio_Jardel

OK, he wasn’t frequently associated with fooling around at the time (see article), nor is he some sort of “beauty-god”. But, if you’d go out in Lisbon, you’d often see him. I did, once. Him and Andre Cruz, both recently portuguese champions with Sporting Lisbon (01/02) and several (young but adult) women… All trying to get a piece of any of them. Andre Cruz was just enjoying the evening and company. Jardel was just enjoying the company and a bit of the evening…

Anyway, at the end of the summer of 2002 his wife Karen dumped him and strangelly or not, his career was never the same again… I still remember his face and I can tell you, the man was heartbroken… Of course, we also don’t know if she was fooling around either or if she just had enough of him acting like a kid… Anyway, I’d say he ended up loosing (big time) as she was, hmm, how to say…? Google her name and you’ll now what I mean…

Last rumour has it that his sister is now “dating” Cristiano Ronaldo, but it might be just something you read in a blog… Funny enough, Deco is brother-in-law to Sporting’s striker Alecssandro… Small world, han…?

This is very cool: http://www.soccerquotes.info/quotes/mariojardel

Terrible people, we bloggers… Terrible and vicious creatures…
http://france.worldcupblog.org/player-news/claude-makelele-interview.html#comments Pedro P

Ooooops… Apparently, Jordana Jardel is even prior to Merche… Old news… Sorry.

Anyway, there are cruel people :
http://mercheromero.iobloggo.com/