If You Want a Free Market, Let's Have a Free Market!

Sports Minister Gerry Sutcliffe has attracted much criticism following his comments that some footballers' wages (and in particular John Terry's) were 'obscene'. In addition, he claimed that ordinary fans of Manchester United were being priced out of going to watch matches due to the excessive rises in ticket prices. Chief amongst his critics was PFA Chairman, Gordon Taylor, who pointed out that there are many sportsmen who earn far more than John Terry and that it was not the place of a Sports Minister to criticise a sport that brings in so much money into the country and the UK economy. Though RTG doubt very much that over 50% of JT's wages go in taxes to the government as claimed by Mr Taylor.

We at RTG want to make our position perfectly clear on this matter. RTG are not against players being paid fabulously, if that is what the market dictates. RTG are not for salary caps - which would be totally unworkable in a cash-rich business anyway - and we are not here to pass judgement on what anybody does or does not earn. Nor are RTG here to discuss the morality of a footballer's wages versus a nurses wages, for example. These are far bigger issues concerning global capitalism and civilisation itself. There are far better, and more qualified, philosophers and commenatators than ourselves for that. But, given that the highest paid player, in a matter of less than 20 years, has gone up by a factor of about 20 times, it's hard not to believe at times that footballers get paid unbelievably large sums for doing a job that most would give their right arm to do.

What RTG struggles to come to terms with is how the supposed 'free market' operates in an uncompetitive manner in football. RTG believe that no club should spend beyond its means to pay over-inflated players' wages. One of the most dangerous consequences of Abramovich's regime at Chelsea is the hyper-inflation to players' wages and transfer fees. At the time he arrived, the Leeds financial crisis had appeared to deflate the market - that is, the cost of players and their associated pay demands. Abramovich's millions served to re-ignite inflation in the transfer market as well as to land Chelsea in a situation where the club is completely reliant on the funding provided by one person - obtained through highly dubious means. But that's another story.

It is not for RTG, or anyone, to tell Chelsea or Abramovich how to spend their money. But it seems highly uncompetitive for teams to spend way beyond their revenue. Leeds and others, quite rightly, have been handed penalties for spending beyond their means - it is a form of cheating! So what is different about Chelsea's current situation? RTG cannot give you the exact figures, after all we are dealing with massaged balance sheets and financial statements, but their over spend must be in the region of £200M - £300M since Abramovich took over. This for a club that was reportedly within days of filing for administration itself. RTG stress this has nothing to do with Chelsea itself. But, anecdotal evidence from a small number of Chelsea fans would suggest that their recent success has been tainted in their own eyes by their financial advantage.

Lets us state again that RTG is not against the free market. But how can it be a free market when clubs are being subsidised by rich patricians. Clubs' spending on players should be linked to revenue earned. Of course this is an over-simplification but we believe the FA, and the clubs themselves, should be made to be more transparent in their financial dealings to make a workable solution. It seems ludicrous that the world's biggest and richest sport has virtually no financial controls, regulations or restrictions - unlike many other sports.

Reclaim the Game - The Weekend's Events

• It was suggested by respected football journalist, Patrick Barclay, at the weekend that Steve Maclaren's main achievement in managing England was to rid the players of the idea that England was a team of superstars - and that he was actually doing a good job. Strange then to find Maclaren jetting 5,000 miles to go and check out David Beckham's fitness in advance of the Croatia Euro 2008 qualifier. Stranger still, that he chose to ignore an entire Premiership programme to watch a charity match that LA Galaxy won 12-4 against Hollywood United: a team consisting of 40+ year old ex-pros, the guitarist from Def Leppard and assorted "Where Are They Now" ageing popstars. But rest assured, he does not treat David Beckham as a superstar! Perhaps he just fancied a week in the sun at the FA's expense.


• Four South Korean internationals, including the national team captain were caught 'cavorting' and 'drinking' in an Indonesian brothel. They were all handed one-year suspensions from international matches and the captain was stripped of his position. Aside from the fact that their offences were fairly innocuous in comparison to some of the rape and roasting allegations against Premiership players, RTG wonders what the FA would do in such circumstances to England players? Suspect FA!


• You might get sick of RTG banging on about this but we're going to keep doing so because it is important. Once again a decision that would certainly have been referred to the video referee (were it allowed) would have produced an indecisive decision. Chelsea's second goal against Wigan began with a move where Shaun Wright-Philips stretched to keep a ball in play that may or may not have gone out. We can't tell and neither could Sky. Fair play to the BBC for having such limited time available that they didn't even feel it was worthwhile discussing. RTG is convinced that the result would not have been changed by this ruling either way. So, again, let's all stop and think for a moment before we go down the media's chosen route and stop every game for minutes at a time to make decisions that actually won't be as clear cut as the lazy pundits would have us think.


• RTG has touched on this before but it comes to our attention again. Gus Poyet has left Leeds United and Dennis Wise for the bright lights of the Premiership as assistant manager to Juande Ramos at Spurs despite the fact that Leeds have only just lost their first game of the season. But despite Leeds' unbelievable run that still sees them challenging for promotion despite a 15 point deduction at the beginning of the season, RTG can't help remembering the plight of Rotherham who, despite being top of the league at Christmas (in similar circumstances) ended up being relegated. Deducted points are (as they should be) a serious hindrance to progress over the course of a season.

Hats Off (take a bow) - Or Maybe Not!

Player of the Week - Benjani Mwaruwari. Now top scorer in the Premiership in what the papers like to call "an unfashionable team" and coming off the back of a staggering away win at St James' Park of four goals to one.

Hero of the Week - Darren Cann. Referees Assistant at the Emirates. Alert enough to see that the ball had crossed the line and also had the balls to give the decision immediately and no more needed to be said. Job done.

Villain of the Week - Steve Maclaren. Steve! You did the right thing by dropping Beckham as captain of England. Maybe (and just maybe) you dropped him a bit too early from the team (but that showed you were too wary of what the press were looking for you to do). But you brought him back admidst the scrutiny of a baying media rather than having the courage to pick your own team. And where are you now? Flying 5,000 miles to watch Beckham play a charity game to see if he is fit enough to play in a crucial qualifier against Croatia. Look Steve, you don't have to be England manager to know that if he wasn't fit two weeks ago, he probably is not now fit either for such an important game. We've got the players to qualify for Euro 2008 without the need for that. But sadly, we're now relying on Israel to bail us out and a plane trip to LA is not going to change that Gaffa!

Shock of the Week - Arsenal's advertising hoardings. Continuously providing us with a reminder of the refreshing qualities of a Vietnamese beer that, to our knowledge, is not even available here. It does not take a genius to work out that, maybe...just maybe, there was a different audience in mind when this ad space was procured. Perhaps the 12:45 kick off provides a clue.

Cliche of the Week - "Nobody complains about [insert other sportsman's name] earning more than footballers". We get the point Graham but frankly your members do earn a lot of money and hopefully feel grateful once in a while for that.