This trend is becoming all the more common in football with players in the final years of their contracts now more aware of the fact that they can hold a club to ransom by saying they’ll leave the following year for nothing unless they get an improved deal. This will either lead to a club selling the player on for a reduced fee (although on deadline day fees can soar) or giving into their demands and bumping their wage up to meet their requirements. Enrique left Newcastle for £6 million this summer despite being worth more than double that fee. But with the Spaniard refusing to sign a new deal and hankering for a move to Liverpool the Magpies had to sell otherwise they’d have an unhappy player on their hands that would be free to leave in 12 months time for absolutely nothing. It’s a dirty tactic but it works. Nasri is another example, refusing to sign a new contract and forcing Arsenal to sell him to Man City.
But who are real losers in all of this? The fans! They are the ones who are hit hard in the pocket when these players decide they want a pay rise or a move elsewhere. Whether a player pockets more zeroes on their weekly wage or decide to leave on a free causing their club to shell out money on a replacement, fans will be the ones left covering the cost. Ticket prices, merchandise and food has slowly risen in tandem with transfer fees and wages that players are now commanding and it’s having a serious effect on attendances. With the economy in the perilous position the clamour for players to earn the highest wage possible is sucking money out of clubs and the pockets of fans.
These players are simply tearing the heart right out of football forcing more and more fans away from stadiums and into their armchairs or local pubs. Their selfish approach to earning money is killing football slowly but surely and ruining a game that was once built on respect and principles. If this problem isn’t nipped in the bud and rectified quickly, football will eventually cease to be as these players will become too powerful and too expensive to maintain.
The article was written by Jak Penny for FootballFancast.com. Make sure to check out the latest news, blogs and podcasts at FFC – ed.
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Why shouldn’t a player leave on a free when he’s out of contract, it’s just a job like any other?!
Modern players play for themselves not the fans I am used to it.Its no longer a team game.They see it as a job/career and try to earn as much money as possible so they dont need to work beyond 35!
I was told this by an ex player.
Bossman ruling has brought far better things in Football than other way round. Yes, the player power has increased, but that’s only the other side of the coin; previously the players were sort of a slave. The rule is simple, after my contract expires, I must be allowed to choose my employer, be it in corporate or club. I don’t think player’s salary is the main reason for the ticket price hike. Apart from inflation, higher security concerns by governing body have pushed clubs to reduce the no. of seats & the economic growth has increased the purchasing power of the upper middle class. Clubs do know that with a 10% year or year price hike, still they can get 99% house for the top 20% of the society.
It’s more of the spoiled money that has made the transfer crazy. In 70s some idiot Yanks wanted to make a soccer circus & there came the NY Cosmos. In 90s onwards, it’s always been the corrupt money, which has spoiled the game. The Italian Mafia, The Spanish Politicians, The Middle-east Sheiks & finally the “Free” Russians. Several times, Milanese giants, Juventus, Real, Chelsea, ManU, ManCity had been involved or charged in tap-ins to match fixings? If crazy people can spend 50+mn on Kaka or Ibrahamovic, to replace Schnider or Eto’, what the players can do but exploiting? Moral-less, shameless & arrogant billionaires are spitting money to purchase success & few top players are pawning them (Eto’ at 31 is contracted at 350K/week for 3/4 years & is it his fault to leave Inter? Same goes for Torres). Just wait to see how b*****s like Abrahamovic, Mansoor, Perez, Laporte, Moratti, Baluscini, Karimov & few others f**k the “Financial Fair play” ruling.
I think, the Bossman ruling is a blessing for average players & mid to low level clubs. Because of Bossman ruling, a lot good, but not outstanding non EU players are earning decent money & more importantly, had there not been Bossman rulings, even average players from few countries (I put England, Spain & Italy at top of this list) would have charged vulgar amount whereas top players (But not outstanding) from Africa or Latin America would have struggled to find clubs to earn decent money. The quality of European football has gone higher significantly, with this open market policy. Since Bossman verdict, 7 of the 8 WC finalists are European, teams with lot of African & Latin players in their domestic league have done better & I think for the first time, top 4 FIFA ranked teams are European. & it has kept the Latin & African Football going as well, otherwise, in those 2 continents, clubs from outside of Brazil, Mexico & may be Colombia would have struggled to survive.
The moral of modern players has gone down significantly. Bossman ruling is allowing them to ransom clubs on last year of contract, but even without Bossman, Rooney would have done the same, may be some other way. & with or without Bossman, there ‘ll always be fools!! like Steve G, Carragher, Giggs, Scholes, Shearer.
Well said M.
I would add that I admire Spurs stance on Modric. To move a player on requires 2 interested parties and in this case Spurs were not willing to do business at any price. It shows that player power/agent power can be countered.
Nice column.But the idea of tagging the best of all in english football aint right.check the list-Gerrard,carragher,giggs,scholes and shearer.Going by their achievements,are these dudes not worthy to emulate.They are what i call ‘english football idols’.They are the brain behind the success of their respective clubs.They love the,not the money.Or am i getting it all wrong?