An observation, strange although common in Britain, was recently heard in news reports of a murder: the perpetrator was a talented footballer…

Also in mitigation, his counsel said, ‘He was a talented footballer. He had obtained an FA1 coaching certificate…’ Apparently, indeed, he had some kind of position at Arsenal FC.

Now how, unless football had some intrinsic, and perhaps even causative, connection to violent crime, could the fact that Kojo-Smith was a talented footballer have any bearing whatever on the case? Does the possession of footballing talent mean that someone is ipso facto less able to exercise judgment and self-control, and more likely to carry a knife and stick it in someone’s chest?