Sports Minister & Excessively Rich Footballists
Discussion
http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/4568308.stm
Seems that Rooney & Co are earning too much money.
Whilst he's at it, can the minister sort out the pop industry and lots of other randomnly monied bastards too?
Quite astonishing behaviour, driven by pure jealousy and however understandable for people with double digit IQs, outrageous interference by the bot docs.
Contemptible villains to a man!
Seems that Rooney & Co are earning too much money.
Whilst he's at it, can the minister sort out the pop industry and lots of other randomnly monied bastards too?
Quite astonishing behaviour, driven by pure jealousy and however understandable for people with double digit IQs, outrageous interference by the bot docs.
Contemptible villains to a man!
Unless the government buy the clubs or nationalise them, I don't see what the hell they can do to stop clubs paying what they wish to footballers.
More likely they'll look at playing around with players taxes and pension contribution reliefs.
DAZ
>> Edited by dazren on Friday 30th December 14:53
More likely they'll look at playing around with players taxes and pension contribution reliefs.
DAZ
>> Edited by dazren on Friday 30th December 14:53
It's not down to the minster to pressure a salary cap. All that would bring is good players leaving for elsewhere. It's down to the football clubs, and their bean counters to determine wages. If they can afford it, and bringing in a big name player ups the cash flow, then fine. If they can't afford it, you don't get them. The minister does realise that football is a business, and although many clubs are in debt, they will run to a business plan, and not many, especially the smaller clubs will not risk that. No doubt Chelsea will get the blame, along with man utd, etc, but thats their business, NOT caborns. I can't abide all the people who bemoan them becasue of their wages. Would you refuse it? I certainly wouldn't.
Parrot of Doom said:
I don't think it has anything to do with jealousy. The wage bills of some clubs are destroying the long term prospects for the game.
Since the Premiership started, and TV contracts were awarded, the gap between the haves and have-nots has increased dramatically.
Yes, and while we're at it, lets see about sorting motorsport too, after all how is it fair that Schumi and his pals can earn more than the guys at our local banger racing track?
Muncher.
Thinking back a while, when rugby union went from "amateur" to professional status, didn't the clubs have a set total salary cap they could pay out to their playing squad (I think the rule was enforced by the RFU). I suppose the FA could try and put some similar scheme/rules in place to safeguard the badly run clubs, however as mentioned earlier, the best players would fly off and play elsewhere. Alternatively the very wealthiest UK clubs would say
off and join similarly wealthy European clubs and form a European superleague........
DAZ
>> Edited by dazren on Friday 30th December 15:05
Thinking back a while, when rugby union went from "amateur" to professional status, didn't the clubs have a set total salary cap they could pay out to their playing squad (I think the rule was enforced by the RFU). I suppose the FA could try and put some similar scheme/rules in place to safeguard the badly run clubs, however as mentioned earlier, the best players would fly off and play elsewhere. Alternatively the very wealthiest UK clubs would say
off and join similarly wealthy European clubs and form a European superleague........ DAZ
>> Edited by dazren on Friday 30th December 15:05
The article said:
The British MP is planning to invoke the Treaty of Nice, which allows for sport to be a special case, with regards to wages.
"The Nice agreement provides the provision to allow us to change the law and introduce salary caps," he added.
"We are working on an agreement whereby all parties sign up to it and Uefa are leading this enquiry into the game, which ensures that we are moving towards a proper conclusion.
"We all want to confront the issue of the amounts of money going into salaries.
"But equally we want to ensure that it is fair across the board, that it is the same for Manchester United as it is for Barcelona and that can only be achieved on a European level.
"We shall report back in June and I think that we can have a positive agreement by then."
Err who elected this muppet?
No-one? Thought not. Bloody interfering busybodies in Brussels, Guy Fawkes had the right idea
It's not that much of a bad idea though is it? I mean a lot of what footballers earn would probably be through sponsorship deals and advertising stuff, surely thats where Beckham & friends have made a lot of their money. The fact that they wont be able to afford 3 extra fluro pink hummers on 30" spinners is probably a public service in that it saves all the clean up costs associated with the induced vomiting from their remarkably bad taste. The money would be surely be better off going to a school to help teach the footballers to read and write 
On a more serious note wouldn't it be better if they put some money back into the development of the game, especially since it's a popular game in many thrid world countries where they could make a difference with the benefit of unearthing further talents.
Formula 1 is in much the same situation where inferior drivers get ahead of more talented types merely because they have more sponsorship money. They are trying to make F1 cheaper, if they did it properly we could actually have more talented drivers and more interesting races.
On a more serious note wouldn't it be better if they put some money back into the development of the game, especially since it's a popular game in many thrid world countries where they could make a difference with the benefit of unearthing further talents.
Formula 1 is in much the same situation where inferior drivers get ahead of more talented types merely because they have more sponsorship money. They are trying to make F1 cheaper, if they did it properly we could actually have more talented drivers and more interesting races.
all that will happen in this case (if he went ahead) is that (more) monies would be paid to offshore companies owned by the individual players for things like image rights and so forth. the only loser would be the exchequer as less of the money is going to be taxed at the end of the day.
For an analysis of the legal issues involved with a salary cap, which is quite easy to follow:
http://elitefootballtalk.blogspot.com/2005/12/salary
http://elitefootballtalk.blogspot.com/2005/12/salary
A salary cap in any sport has to be introduced by the overall governing body - so in this case FIFA. FA can't do it, cos best players will leave for the continent. UEFA could concievably enforce it, but best players would simply leave to the J-League or MLS. Only fair way is through FIFA.
Generally a good idea, but has absolutely nothing to do with anybody except those that govern football.
Generally a good idea, but has absolutely nothing to do with anybody except those that govern football.
I think part of the problem with this argument is that many people think that the majority of players are motivated primarily by money - I very much doubt thats the case in reality. Sure, they're going to hold out for the best contract they can get, but many players could earn much more money by moving to European clubs, yet they stay in the English league because they prefer the English game.
Roy Keane could have very easily gone to Europe and earned a shedload more money than his last Utd deal, but he preferred to stay at Utd.
Roy Keane could have very easily gone to Europe and earned a shedload more money than his last Utd deal, but he preferred to stay at Utd.
An overall salary cap by club would surely be an excellent thing. It would mean that the top players would be spread more evenly across the Premiership and would avoid the current situation whereby the richest club is almost unbeatable because it has an endless pot of cash. Chelsea could pick 2 teams at present, either of which could win the league.
As a Reading supporter I want my club to be able to compete on a relatively even playing field when we make our glorious and inevitable ascent next season.
As a Reading supporter I want my club to be able to compete on a relatively even playing field when we make our glorious and inevitable ascent next season.
unrepentant said:
An overall salary cap by club would surely be an excellent thing. It would mean that the top players would be spread more evenly across the Premiership and would avoid the current situation whereby the richest club is almost unbeatable because it has an endless pot of cash. Chelsea could pick 2 teams at present, either of which could win the league.
As a Reading supporter I want my club to be able to compete on a relatively even playing field when we make our glorious and inevitable ascent next season.
I'm not really sure that that is the issue. Sports will never be a level playing field, and football especially. To do so we'd all have to have football grounds the same size, have the same attendences, and players of equal ability. That will not happen. As it is, the teams in the top tier WILL have the best players, and WILL be getting a far greater financial package than even teams in the lower half of that division. Players would certainly not be spread evenly over the prem. they would congregate in the CL regulars, who, due to the prize money, and extra income from TV revenue, would have more money than those that did not participate. This is more often tha not how the gap has widened. Salary caps will not stop this. the fact that football is now a business also means that players that attract income via shirt sales, and game winning performances will also mean that the clubs will benefit by attracting them with larger wage bills. It is the same as any industry. Salary caps will not work. If it was to happen, then the teams currently, or next to qualify for CL would automatically gain an advantage over the rest, and the cap will have been wasted.
A true market economy is something of a self-regulating-valve.
The only reason top footballers are on a high wack, is because there are so few of them (supply & demand).
Ultimately the market will always win. Take Leeds UTD, massive club but even they had to pay their debts.
Equally, the reason MP's are on a comparatively low wage for the responsibility is because there are hundreds of applicants for every position. As such, what we have here is "the politics of envy".
The only reason top footballers are on a high wack, is because there are so few of them (supply & demand).
Ultimately the market will always win. Take Leeds UTD, massive club but even they had to pay their debts.
Equally, the reason MP's are on a comparatively low wage for the responsibility is because there are hundreds of applicants for every position. As such, what we have here is "the politics of envy".
dazren said:
Muncher.
Thinking back a while, when rugby union went from "amateur" to professional status, didn't the clubs have a set total salary cap they could pay out to their playing squad (I think the rule was enforced by the RFU). I suppose the FA could try and put some similar scheme/rules in place to safeguard the badly run clubs, however as mentioned earlier, the best players would fly off and play elsewhere. Alternatively the very wealthiest UK clubs would say
DAZ
>> Edited by dazren on Friday 30th December 15:05
I was chatting to a British Lion a couple of weeks ago and I said "Well its an amateur game"
I suspect the non hysterical sports such as Rugby and Cricket will remain, soccer will survive if the market is allowed to develop as it should. The time for the top clubs to leave the provincial game and allow international clubs to thrive. Gassing Station | The Pie & Piston Archive | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff