chaplin

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

The difficulty of disciplining footballers

The Guardian have a story about Robinho's walking out of Manchester City's training camp in Tenerife the other day. The first bit goes:
Robinho reacted to the collapse of Kaka's proposed £91m deal by packing his suitcase and arranging for a private jet to take him back to Brazil
I'm trying to picture this. Are we to believe that Robinho packed an overnight bag, arranged his bed so that it looked as if he was still sleeping, escaped from the hotel via the fire escape and took a cab to the airport where a jet was waiting to whisk him to Sao Paulo? But that doesn't strain credibility so much as the response of City's chairman to the incident.
However, Cook confirmed Robinho had not received consent to go, describing the player's behaviour as "very disappointing" and confirming that he would be fined.
How can you fine somebody who takes private jets on a whim? That's the problem. When it comes to discipline football clubs have no sticks but an unlimited supply of carrots. Bet they end up paying him more money to come back.

4 comments:

  1. This reminds me of a story I read about Bobby Robson when he was managing Newcastle. He thought it might be good for the young men in his care to get a feel for history and struggle and so on. Taking them to a local mining museum he was dismayed as they showed no interest at all and couldn't understand why they were there. Most Premier League players have been treated like boy-kings since pre-adolescence and if it doesn't have a guaranteed bonus and a signing fee, it doesn't merit attention.

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  2. It's easy (and fun) to pick on footballers because they have daft haircuts and aren't as rule very articulate, but it isn't this the same problem with all the city types who've run their banks into the ground and wnat bailing out. That their money immunises them from sanctions, every day the wander onto the today programme never once admiting any fault or fearing any sanctions.

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  3. This is the same club (my club....) who in talking to Kaka's dad " talked a lot about a humanitarian approach and also environmental issues and the statements his son would like to make around the world. He is truly respected around the world not only for his capabilities as a footballer. journey." They will say and do whatever suits them today.

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  4. He probably wants a raise ayway. Being paid in pounds at the moment must really hurt when all your mates are paid in euros... poor mite.
    Assuming he's on about £70,000 / week or something similarly daft, up until Jan '05 he'd have got 105,000 Euros for that when he went off to Calais to fill up the fridge. Now he'd get about 70,000. How ever will he make ends meet..?

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