Why have I chosen to pit footballers against bankers in this entry then? It’s because usually the people who complain about footballers and their extraordinary wages, are the same people who defend the bankers - who also have astonishing pay cheques.
Honestly, the hypocrisy that exudes from such individuals who complain about footballers is astounding.
“Footballers are paid ridiculous wages just for kicking a ball around”. Yes they are paid very large sums of money for their services.
But before I go on, I’m willing to bet my house that every single one of these individuals, who make such a statement statement, would take a footballer’s wage if it was offered to them at the drop of a hat.
The good majority of people who complain about footballer’s wages are not football fans. Therefore they are very unlikely to be contributing to their wealth.
They don’t pay for Sky Sports, they don’t buy tickets to attend matches, they don’t purchase any merchandise, and they most likely don’t use any of the products that the footballers are sponsored by.
Footballers are very much paid for by people who like football.
You have a choice whether you want to contribute towards a footballer’s salary. Now contrast that with bankers, where many of them have their wages paid for, or supplemented, by taxpayers.
Not only that, many of the banks were bailed by taxpayers. There is no way for people to opt out. Whether you like it or not, your tax money has gone towards their pay. So I have every right to complain about their bonus culture and their irresponsible financial gambling.
On top of this, the actions of bankers can have a direct affect on the quality of my life
The last time a footballer underperformed or failed at his job, the global economy did not spectacularly dip into a recession.
Fernando Torres, missing yet another easy chance, does not cause unemployment to rise by 2 million.
Frank Lampard putting in a poor performance one weekend, does not cause Investors to suddenly lose confidence and panic sell their shares, thereby causing the FTSE Index to dramatically plummet.
When footballers underperform or fail at their jobs, all you get is some disgruntled fans and an angry football manager,
And no, it’s not just “kicking a ball around”. The control of a ball using one’s feet is a difficult technique that takes many years to hone. Many of the top footballers have been kicking a ball since they started walking. Not only that, to be a professional footballer these days requires intense training and discipline, to acquire the athleticism and strength that enable them to compete with all the other athletes (yes they are athletes) on the field.
To put it simply, footballers work for their money. Just like everyone else. They just so happen to be lucky enough to be an industry where they are paid way more than the average person for their services.
What’s also amazing is that many of these people who complain, seemingly forget about that other sporting professions out there that pay sky high wages.
Tennis players, Golfers and Formula One drivers can all take home extraordinary six figure sums. In fact, some of the top Golfers and Formula One drivers have earnings that eclipse that of the top Footballers.
Yet they escape the wrath of these complainers. Perhaps they’re just middle class enough to get their approval.
It seems that many of these whiners just have something against football, rather actually believing in their own arguments. Case in point, during the 2010 World Cup, I noticed several people putting up Facebook statuses comparing footballers with soldiers, and criticizing the former in an attempt to praise the latter.
Of course, I am not denouncing soldiers at all. They are courageous men who carry out orders valiantly for the country, often dying whilst doing so. They have my utmost respect. But really, what do footballers have to do with soldiers? It seemed these bitter individuals were using the death of soldiers in order to demonstrate their hatred of footballers – which, I feel, is very disrespectful.
In a way, it’s just like the people who make a song and dance (excuse the pun) of hating X factor and Britain’s Got Talent. Why don’t you just, er, not watch it?
I am not singing the praises of footballers. Indeed, a great many of them need to re-evaluate themselves and attempt to be better role models (I’m looking at you, John Terry). Many of them also need to give more back to the fans who support them every weekend.
I also understand, that bankers are not the sole reason for the recession we faced, and that they can also contribute massively towards our economy when they do their jobs correctly.
But really, to single out footballers yet defend the bankers, smacks of hypocrisy and a real lack of understanding of the facts. And I think the people that do this, really need get their priorities right.
