I recently travelled with my son and daughter to see Aston Villa play at Villa Park. I am a Patron of Aston Villa Football Club and am passionately committed to football and helping all sport to thrive. My father was a professional cricketer and played for the Warwickshire Bears.
However, I am disturbed by the obscene amounts of money misdirected in professional football. Only last week, the Abu Dhabi United Group (ADUG) agreed to buy Manchester City F. C. for a reported £150 million. In the time it takes for most of us to do our weekly food shop, ADUG ‘bought’ the Real Madrid striker Robinho for £34.2 million.
Allegedly Robinho will earn £95000 per week at Manchester City. In these days of credit crunch and mortgage difficulties, this reads uncomfortably. How many fast cars do these football stars need? The modern soccer culture now is that money equals success. But what of team-work, inspirational leadership and commitment?
Football is more than just a sport in this country. It is romance and finance. Fans will support their club through thick and thin, from generation to generation. Most money in football is spent on players’ wages. We should be investing in the grass roots of the game which have been neglected for too long. We should make school soccer a priority after successive governments have sold off our playing fields. I have argued this many times in Parliament.
If ever there was proof that this is the right way forward, take a look at the Olympics. Our success in Beijing was achieved by passion and commitment rather than money being the goal. It is time for Soccer to take note of the old adage: “Look after the pennies and the pounds will look after themselves”.
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