Is It A Bird? Is It A Plane?

There has been lots of tittering and speculation today following Stephen Ireland's celebration last night of his winning goal against Sunderland. He dropped his shorts to reveal a pair of Superman underpants.

The worry was that the FA would feel obliged to take some sort of punitive action, given that the match was beamed all over the world. The good news is that he will not face any sanction, although he has been "reminded about his responsibilities"

I have been intrigued by the story. Not because I am the sort of girl that thinks it is funny when someone pulls down their shorts in public (which of course it is), but because I am wondering what would happen if everyone was missing the point.

I mean the fuss has been about decency and setting a good example and all that.

But what if the real debate should be whether Stephen Ireland actually is Superman?

Yes OK I know it sounds a bit far fetched. Bear with me for the time being though. Lets explore this a bit further.

If Superman really was playing for a Premiership team incognito, that would rather make the concerns about performance enhancing drugs pale into insignificance wouldn't it?

And how would you know? There would have to be a Kryptonite tests as well as urine and blood tests. Oh and don't believe the Wikipedia claims that this is a fictional substance because it exists.

Nor would it be completely to a team's advantage to have a superhero playing on their side. If it comes to a choice between flying off half way through a match or not saving the world, guess what he is going to do.

Flight of fancy? Probably. But then Sven rather mysteriously said "Superman - super goal".

Maybe he knows something we don't.