But when England’s rugby players were pictured throwing dwarves and gallivanting with women before a crucial match in the 2011 World Cup, much of the press simply saw it as a ‘laugh’. One can imagine that the headlines would have been of a far more disparaging nature had it been football players in the same position.
The high wages are likely to be another reason for the general disillusionment with footballers. Some people may think that anyone who earns an obscene amount of money as they do should be liable to a bit of abuse from fans that, at the end of the day (a phrase that many in the game are fond of using), are effectively paying their wages. Yes, they can receive sponsorships from brands and television deals, but the reason they acquire those deals is because those businesses know that there is a very large audience that will tune in and consume; those very fans who abuse players every week.
And that is another thing. Any player who is not wearing a particularly colour of shirt will be verbally set upon by opposing supporters throughout a match that they are trying to win, which can include disgusting remarks about them and their family. They’re bound to be on edge in an environment like that. This hostile atmosphere is in stark contrast to the trials and tribulations that Olympians are subjected to, with, on the whole, polite applause and encouragement given to them no matter who they are. It should also be pointed out that a good deal of many footballers give their money to charity as well.
Overall, it is mainly down to the fact that footballers are focused upon by a far larger section of the public than other sports, so there is more chance of an indiscretion being noted, pulled apart, then twisted and sensationalised for the purposes of a story; plus there are more of them in the world than say, professional cyclists. Society it seems, or at least many a right-wing tabloid, is obsessed with the effect that someone in the public eye will have on a young person’s behaviour and morals, and feel that they have a responsibility in conducting themselves in a ‘perfect’ manner 24 hours a day, forgetting the fact that they’re not robots.
If you or I were watched with as much intensity as some footballers then I’m sure there would be instances where we appeared rude and bad tempered. There are humans from all walks of life that are good and bad, and this applies to all sportsmen and women too. One group is not worse than the other, so bear that in mind when reading about an Olympian who is assumed by the media to be of a higher moral standing than that of their football counterparts.
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