Players disgraced the England shirt
If I were a Member of Parliament I could happily sign this Early Day Motion from Roger Godsiff (Labour, Birmingham Sparbrook and Small Heath):
That this House congratulates Croatia and Russia on qualifying for the European Football Championships from Group E; acknowledges that the Croatian team which beat England were far superior in technical ability, skill and commitment than the insipid and inept England team; notes that £747 million was spent on the new Wembley Stadium but the match was played on a surface similar to those used by Sunday footballers on council pitches; thanks the efforts of the Israeli and part-time players of Andorra in trying to help England by doing their very best against Russia; commiserates with the fans who have spent large amounts of their hard earned money following England during these championships; believes that the over-paid, over-pampered and over-hyped English prima donnas from the Premiership who took the field against Croatia disgraced the England shirt once worn by legends such as Stanley Matthews, Duncan Edwards, Bobby Moore, Nobby Stiles and Bobby Charlton; and recognises that they will no doubt be consoled by the thought that while they are watching the European Championships from their luxurious holiday destinations their celebrity lifestyles will be protected by them still receiving their vastly inflated wages, provided by Sky and Setanta television money, from clubs in a Premiership League which is nothing more than a money making machine for players, agents and entrepreneurial club owners which does very little for promoting the well-being of football in England either at the grass roots or international level.
David Amess (Conservative Southend West) has a similar Early Day Motion which captures the public mood:
That this House calls on the Football Association to re-examine the organisation of the country’s national sport, paying particular regard to the salaries of football players and their managers; and further calls on the Association to look at the ticket prices for Premier League and international matches on the basis of affordability and value for money.
The trouble is, when politicians start to talk in the same terms as their constituents, it all invariably turns to dust!
Substitute football players for politicians in David Amess’ EDM and it’d capture the public mood just as well…
Comment by Michael Hudson — November 23, 2007 @ 5:53 pm
Couldn’t agree more. Just as disgusting was Steve Claridge, a man I used to like, ripping into Godsiff on 5 Live about it. He seemed to think that despite the MP having 50+ years of watching football that he didn’t know what he was talking about and had no right to comment.
Comment by Alun Murch — November 30, 2007 @ 9:15 am