Too Tired for an Autograph!?

You may have seen the West Ham evening dinner broke out into a fracas last night after a fan was turned down for an autograph by Demba Ba, with the excellent excuse of 'I'm too tired'.

So tired that you can't lift a pen for a few seconds, but you can hold a drink all night and party?

I don't doubt that it gets on players nerves being asked for autographs all the time, but I like to think that I would always find the time to smile politely and sign them. How would you react as a player to being asked?

I think the least you can do for someone who contributes to your wages is sign an autograph. If he had been surrounded by people for half an hour it may be understandable, but for one autograph that is bang out of order.

I can't imagine that Demba Ba is inundated with requests anyway!

I think if I was out for dinner with family or friends then I'd ask them to come back once I'd finished eating. And strictly no autographs or photos whilst in the gents!

To say you're "too tired" though is simply laughable!

Especially when your team has just been relegated - you should do everything in your power to keep fans onside.

Why are they even having a dinner - it should have been cancelled.

Black Squirrel - it was to raise money for the academy, so they wanted to keep it on. It was very poor timing of course, let alone that it was over £200 per head for the fans who wanted to go.

I agree Enforcer, Demba Ba is hardly the face of football!

If it was for the academy then fair enough

They'll need that next year

Its not exactly the longest name to sign either.

Could understand it more if Piquionne had said no. Names with Q's in are buggers!

Considering it was an event where fans would be in attendance, you'd have thought the players would be under instruction to sign any autographs necessary.

Too drunk to know how to write his own name, probably!

how many players autgraphs can you read anyway. he could have just put a little squiggle with his number. when i get the norwich players ones i have to write there names at the top of the page

Even just writing something is better than nothing.Just plain ignorant and lazy when they don't.

I met Peter Beardsley at St.James Park once and he was signing autographs for everyone (including myself) more football players should follow his attitude.

all norwich players do. to anyone even opposing teams fans

just another example of how high and mighty most over rated and over paid players think they are

Shocking attitude, give something back to the fans who've just seen you not be good enough to keep them up after they've spent loads paying your wages.

it appears new light has been shown on the story

DEMBA BA insists he was the victim of a racist onslaught during a shameful brawl at West Ham's gala dinner.

Police rushed to London's swanky Grosvenor Hotel when fighting broke out at Monday's end-of-season bash to raise funds for Hammers' academy.

Witnesses told The Sun the brawl was triggered when Ba refused to sign an autograph for a fan, snapping: "I'm too tired."

But Ba last night denied that, claiming: "I did give him his autograph, he came looking for confrontation.

"This guy asked how I was feeling so I just said I was tired from the game on Sunday and that it was a tough game.

"Then he just replied 'Oh, we're tired watching you play every weekend'.

"Then the guy started screaming at me like crazy.

"I didn't understand everything he said but the people next to me said he was saying racist things."

Senegal striker Ba, 25, did not make a formal complaint and insists he wants the matter dropped.

Hammers have been criticised for holding the dinner just 24 hours after they were relegated following a 3-2 defeat at Wigan and boss Avram Grant was sacked.

But a club spokesman said: "It wasn't a 'celebration' it was a chance for the fans to meet players and for them to be accountable to the supporters.

"They understood that and all who could were happy to attend.

"The actions of one person should not overshadow it."

Ba's team-mates were forced to step in when things got ugly with the irate punter at the £275-a-head do.

Ba added: "Some players told me to walk away and tried to calm this guy but he started smashing some tables and glasses.

"He started insulting me. So I got up to show I'm not impressed at all by him but this guy was a bit drunk.

"Danny Gabbidon tried to talk to the guy but he started insulting Gabbidon as well.

"I never refuse to sign autograph to the fans."

fernando wrote:"I never refuse to sign autograph to the fans."

Good to hear, no footballer should the fans effectively pay your wages it's the least you can do. The guy sounds like a **** though, at least he won't have to see Demba Ba play any more seeing as there's plenty of Premier League teams interested, and not much point staying for the fans when they're like that.

Sounds like we may have jumped the gun a bit. Hearing his interview last night on SSN I felt a bit sorry for the lad, sounds like he didn't really know what was going on!!
The fan was obviously upset at his team being relegated and had maybe a wee bit too much to drink methinks but that doesn't excuse it.

its things like this that always make me and wait and see what comes out before i comment.

if some racially abused me after i game them an autograph id punch him and then slap in transfer request the next day.

who's want to play infront of racist fans? just look at odemwingie when he was in russia

This isn't me condoning racism towards opposition players or towards anyone, but it's the world stupidest idea to be racist to your own teams players oh great way to make them want to stay at the club and keep performing, really showing your support there.