1 Timothy 6:10 \u2013 New King James Version of the Bible<\/strong>:<\/p>\n\u2018For the love of money is the root of all evil.\u2019<\/p>\n
Money drives people.<\/p>\n
This entity is what keeps the economy ticking.<\/p>\n
However, the desire for money can go beyond putting food on the table or supplying for your family and may reach out to the dangerous goal of consistently wanting more.<\/p>\n
This \u2018evil\u2019 seed can corrupt and ruin anything no matter how pure.<\/p>\n
In football it\u2019s no different.<\/p>\n
The best example for this came all the way back in 1992, when football, particularly in England, changed forever.<\/p>\n
32 years ago, the Football League First Division became the Premier League.<\/p>\n
With this came the beginning of the broadcasting dictatorship over the game.<\/p>\n
Sky Sports bid and won the rights to show the action, creating a pay to view subscription service to profit off it.<\/p>\n
Now in 2024, to watch just 128 Premier League games, it costs \u00a326 per month extra on top of a Sky TV package or \u00a333 per month as an individual sports package on Now TV.<\/p>\n
This equates to \u00a3396 a year to simply watch \u2018the beautiful game.\u2019<\/p>\n
In a cost of living crisis where people can\u2019t afford to even put the heating on, Sky are charging \u00a3400 to simply watch football.<\/p>\n
Another issue with football and money is overpaying of players.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s a simple fact footballers are overpaid, but in some leagues, particularly seen recently in Saudi Arabia and formally in China and America, clubs will pay way over the odd\u2019s to bring players away from Europe.<\/p>\n
Whilst there\u2019s nothing really wrong with this, it\u2019s the fact that for a lot of these players moving, money is the sole ambition and the former love for the game and huge desire to compete in the biggest competitions, is no longer there.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s the sad reality of how money, in different ways, has tarnished the passion for the game for both fans and players.<\/p>\n
Something which tops all of this off was the creation of the Super League. A footballing idea which only existed because of the desire of more money from greedy owners.<\/p>\n
Need I say anymore.<\/p>\n
Broadcasters and inconsiderate scheduling<\/h2>\n
Additionally, this greed for money has a huge effect on the matchday fans.<\/p>\n
The big broadcasters like Sky and TNT Sport know the more popular teams like Manchester United, Liverpool and Chelsea will generate greater revenue for them as more people will watch televised games with these teams in it and thus they can earn greater add revenue and increased subscriptions.<\/p>\n
Subsequently, these teams are televised more often, but at the detriment to other teams who are scheduled at inconvenient times for fans.<\/p>\n
Supporters are expected to make a 300 mile journey for a 12:30 Saturday kick off or 8pm Tuesday evening game.<\/p>\n
The fans make football what it is, yet the Premier League and Football League seemingly ignore this and don\u2019t even consider the supporters.<\/p>\n
Obviously, sometimes this is inevitable due to the volume of games needed to be played, but often it\u2019s a great example of the lack of consideration the governing bodies have for the actual fans.<\/p>\n
Ticket Prices<\/h2>\n
Football is rooted in its undeniable foundation of being a working-class game.<\/p>\n
But with every year that passes, it seems club owners alienate these fans in favour of profit.<\/p>\n
More seats in big stadiums are being changed into hospitality seats or executive seats.<\/p>\n
Likewise, due to the commercialisation of the game, big clubs like United have become a tourist hotspot.<\/p>\n
Whilst this is certainly not a bad thing, as it boosts the club\u2019s international profile and strengthens its support, it\u2019s the increasing of prices from owners to force the \u2018working class\u2019 matchday fans out of going in favour of earning more from the \u2018tourists.\u2019<\/p>\n
What I want to make clear is that \u2018tourists\u2019 are and should be welcome anywhere, its just the blatant disregard of the fans who made the clubs what it is today.<\/p>\n
This issue has become so prominent that in 2008, a group of Liverpool supporters broke away and created AFC Liverpool which is a not for profit football team which competes in the North West Counties Football League. They were specifically formed as a result of rising ticket prices.<\/p>\n