Seagull over Canaryland
Well-known member
Young footballers have several things in excess: money, testosterone, and time. Many of them have been "apart" from us "normals" from a young age. They've needed an enlarged ego to get where they've got. They get a regular fix of crowd adulation. Their role models are often exceptionally rich and often exceptionally arrogant.
None of which excuses any unpleasant or criminal behaviour that results. But these lads don't half get a weird introduction to adult life.
This has been going on for years but seems to be more widespread and its about time that Clubs and the PFA got a grip. OK you will always get the odd wild child who will slip through the net but somehow a better culture needs to be created. I think Clubs have tended to turn a blind eye as long as players do the business on the pitch knowing that because of player / agent power if they clamp down hard on them they risk them walking to another Club.
Yes footie players often get signed up at an early age and do their growing up within an artificial and privileged football bubble that does not seem to equip them for living life in public and setting good examples as 'professionals'.
Yes Clubs and the PFA should do more but ultimately its about players (and their agents who have a strong influence on their clients) conducting themselves properly.
Employers in the real world do not tolerate serious breaches of conduct. There are few footballers who could do with a dose of reality.