Rayan Cherki did not 'insult' anyone - English football needs more of his showboating

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There was a time when rugby - even at the highest level - would regularly feature proper punch-ups, the occasional headbutt and the odd spot of eye-gouging. But don’t worry, it has always been an honourable game because they call the referee ‘Sir’.

It is not unusual for a sport to have a slightly warped sense of propriety and morality. In the aftermath of the Carabao Cup final, you struggled to find an ex-professional who was not critical of Rayan Cherki’s keepy-ups.

“Juggling with the ball like that, it’s an insult in the pro game,” said Alan Pardew. "If you’re a pro footballer, that is a no-go.”

Ok, fair enough. Yet if you’re a pro footballer, while keepy-ups are a heinous crime, here’s what is NOT on the no-go list, here's what's NOT an insult.

Diving to win a penalty. Feigning injury to get another professional sent off.

Appealing for corners and throw-ins when you know they are not yours. Time-wasting.

Most of these involve being ‘clever’ and are part and parcel of the game, say the ex-pros who consider ball-juggling an insult. And those same ex-pros would condone Ben White’s reaction to Cherki’s showboating.

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Perhaps booting Cherki into the air persuaded Tuchel that White should be excused his England strop and be recalled into the squad. Because it cannot have been his form.

Wembley is not unaccustomed to ball-juggling, of course. Famously, at the old Wembley, Jim Baxter went into Scottish folklore with his keepy-ups towards the end of a 3-2 win over England in the Home Championships.

During that game, Baxter nutmegged Alan Ball in front of the English bench. “And when I turned round, he did it again,” Ball laughed, before labelling Baxter’s performance as “equal to anything I have ever seen”.

There was no talk of an insult. Pep Guardiola appeared to disapprove of Cherki, as well. But only for a brief time.

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And hopefully, he won’t discourage him from doing it again. Because, boy, this Premier League needs a maverick or two.

Cherki stood out at Wembley not just for the showboating that earned him disapproval and Ben’s boot. Cherki stood out for his inventiveness, his risk-taking, his non-conformity - qualities that are becoming increasingly conspicuous by their absence from the formulaic Premier League.

When Mohamed Salah announced his imminent departure from Liverpool - and, presumably, the Premier League - there were many debates about his standing in the greatest-ever lists. And a lot was made of statistical comparisons. Fair enough.

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But the most significant category should be ‘watchability’. Who would you pay most to watch? Who gets you out of your seat? Who does things that make you forget club allegiances? Who does things that make you shoot a semi-astounded look at your mate?

In those contexts, Salah, for me, slotted in at number three in Premier League rankings, behind Thierry Henry and Kevin de Bruyne. But it is becoming increasingly tough to find Premier League players doing those kinds of things.

Cherki could become one of them. And that is why should laugh off the stern disapproval that followed his Jim Baxter routine. The Premier League needs more Rayan Cherkis.