When footballers tell you how clever they have been, you just know it’s going to end in tears. Thus, when David Beckham’s response to criticism of his booking towards the end of the England vs. Wales international was to say:
"I’m sure some people think that I have not got the brains to be that clever"
it actually revealed that he isn’t that clever. Not because it was stupid to get booked and therefore serve a suspension whilst he is injured, but because it was very dumb to admit to it. It’s a fairly obvious ploy, and players often try to serve suspensions in less important games or when they are injured, but it is equally clear that it is contrary to the spirit of the rules.
So if the captain of the England team does it and then tells everyone how "clever" he has been, this tends to attract the attention of the footballing authorities. There are times when being smart just means keeping your mouth shut.
Ordinary Gweilo 
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