I’ve been a bit surprised by the flaring up of the ‘Racism in Football’ issue this week. Not that it wasn’t horrible, it’s just that it doesn’t come as a surprise to me. Time after time these over grown, over paid schoolboys behave atrociously and there’s a little outcry, a slap on the wrist and then everything goes back to normal. It’s not just racism though. You get stories of them cheating on their wives, hitting their girlfriends, sleeping with hookers, speeding, drink driving and getting in fights. That’s just the stuff we hear about. What about all the rumors of even worse behaviour that the huge fortunes involved seem to make disappear?
Are these the kind of men that should become sporting heroes to our kids? I don’t expect them to be paragons of virtue but you’d think ‘no breaking the law or overt racism/sexism/homophobia’ would be an easy enough minimum standard to maintain.
I think much of the ‘unfamily friendly’ behaviour that we see on the terraces is a consequence of the terrible examples that fans see the professionals setting on and off the pitch and the atmosphere it causes. We live in the middle of Birmingham so have both Aston Villa and Birmingham City on our doorstep but I would never take E to see a match live because, even assuming nothing kicks off, I think the kind of language and aggression on display is completely inappropriate for a young child. I don’t have the same problem with rugby or tennis or swimming or rowing or actually any sport I can think of except maybe boxing/cage fighting. On the contrary, it was I who encouraged my own child to play tennis by getting him some racquets from https://tennisracquets.com/. Football is supposed to be our national sport so isn’t that sad? I’m no expert but you don’t seem to get that at other types of events. We lived close to the Millenium Stadium for years and the difference in atmosphere surrounding a rugby game and a football match was striking. We now have things like pointsbet join bonus wherein you can bet online. It wasn’t like that when I was growing, I remember. The bet used to be only amidst our friends.
I realise not all footballers are terrible but then why are the rest of them letting their colleagues get away with acting like this? Money, of course. If they help the team win, bring in sponsorship and sell merchandise they can do what they like. So, unfortunately, I think these sorts of things are inevitable as long as they are never held to account and never see any serious consequences for their actions.
On the up side though the fact that there is so much money involved does mean there is something we can do about this. It’s easy. Stop giving them our money! By this I mean not just avoiding buying the ridiculously overpriced t-shirts but considering their sponsors and advertisers as well. From now on I am resolved to hold the people financing the thuggish behaviour to account and I hope other mums will do the same.
MelkshamMum says
It has changed so much in the past 20 years or so. We used to go as a family – season ticket holders at Norwich! – and yes we would hear a few unsavoury words from fans but all in all it was a safe and positive environmhent. I went with friends as a teenager, home and away, and always felt safe. The players then, even though earning decent money, semed more grounded and ‘real’ and had time for everyday folk. I’m not naive racism was clearly present but now it is ridiculous – £150,000+ a week to play football and act in a manner where you would probably be arrested if in a regular public space? I don’t know the word to use to describe that. And as for their behaviour & attitude, well I’m not encouraging my boy to play the game, would rather he got roughed up a bit with the more physical game of rugby where it seems fans can drink and remain human!
I really object that they act like they’re above the law. Hubs has always played rugby and while the idea of the boys playing does scare me Id much prefer that to football.
Totally agree! I blogged about the difference between Football and Rugby the other day too – from now on I will keep watching and loving the Rugby but the football will be switched off.
Such a shame for the boys to miss out though, isn’t it?
I think the vast majority of professional footballers are perfectly well behaved and many are good ambassadors for the sport. Unfortunately when footballers do transgress it is headline news and the actions of a minority besmirch the entire profession.
I do think its the minority but their behaviour is tolerated and/or supported by the management and their team mates which makes it a problem for the whole game.
I can’t believe that footballers get paid so much money for doing naff all. I mean if you watch rugby it makes football players look like a bunch of girls anyway, they fall over and pretend to cry when they haven’t even done anything! As for what they get up to, well it’s just shocking but then I guess if the girls choose to get involved then they bring it on themselves. But I totally agree, luckily I don’t have to worry yet as I don’t think Iyla will be wanting any of their merchandise but if she does then I won’t be buying it! x
You’ll just have to worry if she wants to marry one 😉