For devout Christian players such as former Middlesbrough midfield hard man George Boateng there is the question of balancing their faith against illegal acts on the field such as a fouling. Dutchman Boateng once defended his red-and-yellowcard-littered disciplinary record with gusto. How does he reconcile being a devout Christian with his no-nonsense style on the pitch? «I read the Bibie but nowhere does it say I must pull out of a tackle,» said Boateng. «Just because I’m a Christian it doesn’t mean I’m not allowed to get a booking.»
