A STRANGE thing happened last week when the football circus that was Liverpool FC dropped by Singapore for a friendly match.

More than a few journalists, normally paragons of professionalism, were reduced to grovelling fanboys craving for a smile, or worse, an autograph from Fernando Torres and gang.

Did it bother me? You bet it did.

In a profession that prides itself on neutrality and credibility, there is no place for reporters pretending to be fans or fans pretending to be reporters.

Here's a case in point: During the Reds' first press conference in Singapore, an Indonesian journalist turned the media session into a fawning monologue about how she and Torres shared the same tastes in music.

The Spaniard listened politely, while the rest of the scribes in the room shifted uncomfortably in their seats.

She wasn't the only one. Another reporter wore a T-shirt emblazoned with Rafael Benitez's image, and proudly pointed that out to the Liverpool manager when it was his turn to ask a question.

No wonder some newsmakers don't take journalists seriously. How can they, when some of us become quivering, attention-seeking wrecks the moment we are confronted with a celebrity?

I have no problem with fans expressing their devotion to a pop star or a footballer, or even gunning for a keepsake when they meet their idols.

I've done that often myself, but only on my own time. After all, it's hard to take notes and ask questions when all you really want is a Jamie Carragher autograph on your bum.

To combine personal fandom and journalism is not just unprofessional — it's simply unethical.

Imagine a reporter who's been assigned to cover a political rally, but turns up wearing party colours and later gets on stage to express his admiration for a party leader.

It might be argued that politics and sports are governed by different sensitivities.

That may be, but there is no doubt that being a fan gets in the way of the job, like what happened at Kallang after the Liverpool match on Sunday.

The 'mixed zone' — a cordoned-off area where journalists could interview the players after the game — turned into an autograph zone.

Instead of flinging questions at the likes of Dirk Kuyt and Javier Mascherano, frenzied reporters piled them with scarves, jerseys and programmes to be signed.

It was enough to make Woodward and Bernstein weep in shame.

For the record, I am a Liverpool fan, and have been one for the last 23 years of my life.

And no, I did not ask for an autograph.