Fans brand City striker 'a disgrace'Aug 19 2007
by Marc Baker, Wales On Sunday
THIS is the drunken face (sorry no picture in the link) of superstar Robbie Fowler pictured just one month after being hailed the saviour of crisis hit Cardiff City.
The striker who is short of match fitness and recovering from a thigh strain didn’t play in yesterday’s 0-2 win at QPR.
In fact he is yet to play a competitive game for the Bluebirds since signing a deal worth a reported £15k-a-week. But that didn’t stop the former Liverpool and England ace drinking the night away in a Cardiff bar until the early hours of Saturday morning.
Fowler, 32, was seen sinking beers with two fellow City players at Conti’s bar in Mill Lane at 2am.
Last night, the dad-of-four – who is worth £28m and is one of the Premiership’s greatest-ever goalscorers – was blasted a “disgrace” by three devoted Bluebirds fans who caught their hero “smashed” during his night on the tiles.
Yesterday, they handed over this mobile phone footage of the star to Wales on Sunday.
One of the fans, a 23-year-old trainee accountant from Roath, Cardiff, said he was stunned to find Fowler “drunk” at a time when he is recovering from injury and trying to improve fitness.
The Bluebirds season ticket holder said: “Two friends and I had just been for a curry in Mill Lane in the early hours of yesterday when we saw Robbie go into Conti’s
“Because we are fans, we followed him in. But when we got inside we were disappointed to see the state he was in. “To me, he was drunk. He was sitting by himself by the bar drinking.
“I thought he looked bloated. His eyes were half shut. If Robbie is injured he should be recuperating, not out on the lash.”
Fowler arrived at Cardiff City FC in a blaze of glory four weeks ago and praised fans for giving him a “passionate welcome”.
The player, who was released by Liverpool at the end of last season, has signed a two-year deal at the Championship club.
At the time, he said: “The passion in the welcome is brilliant, I couldn’t have asked for more.”
But the trainee accountant said: “Fowler is seen as a God by fans but to me, he has set a bad example by getting drunk like this. He should know better.
“Cardiff fans will be stunned to see these pictures. My mate took them as we felt we had a duty to let fans know what is going on.
“Robbie told me not to worry, saying he would bang in the goals for Cardiff City but I feel a bit cheated. If it was the end of the season then fair enough, but Fowler has not played a single game or earned his money yet.
“Robbie was partying without a care in the world.”
Another onlooker, a 23-year-old insurance worker from Cardiff, said: “I shook his hand but he appeared too hammered to notice. His eyes were glazed.”
Another customer, a 24-year-old finance worker from Cardiff, said: “I took the pictures on my mobile at 1.50am.
“Robbie is supposedly getting £15,000-a-week at Cardiff. It is a huge amount of money. To me, his behaviour was unacceptable.”
But Cardiff City defended their star signing last night saying Fowler was free to do what he wanted after being given the weekend off by manager Dave Jones.
Club spokesman Julian Jenkins said: “Robbie worked hard all week in training and Dave Jones gave him the weekend off. Robbie is free to do what he wants in his own time.”
Yesterday, Conti’s owner Giovanni Malacrino, 45, said Fowler was in his bar until the early hours.
But he defended the star’s actions, saying footballers are entitled to a night out.
He said: “Robbie did come by for a drink but players work hard and play hard. It’s part of their make-up.
“Just because he is a footballer he should not be treated differently than anyone else.
“I have seen worst states than this. I have seen players drunk and score hat-tricks the next day. Let Robbie’s feet do the talking.”
Last month, Fowler said: “Obviously I’m confident of my ability and hopefully I’ll show the Cardiff City supporters what I’m all about.”
Fowler’s agent was unavailable for comment last night.
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