Football sold its soul a long time ago with hyper-commercialism beginning as early as the 1950s. But surely England’s upcoming friendly with Brazil is one step too far?
Fabio Capello has just selected a strong squad to travel to Doha.
But with both teams having already qualified for it, and not lacking for match practice with the European season (where all the players are based) in full swing, one wonders why this match is taking place.
Dollars. Lots and lots of it. And a big favour that needs repaying.
That is what football has been reduced to, money and favours.
The match was arranged to repay the £1.2 million debt the English FA incurred to have Brazil play in the inaugural friendly at Wembley, which was part of the “Brazil World Tour” organised by Kentaro.
What other reason could bring a European and South American team to the 30 degree heat of Doha in November? The sponsors of the CBF (Brazilian Football Federation) and the English FA, they are the other part in this equation.
Brazil is tied up to an extremely lucrative long term contract with Nike.
What began as a $100 million, 10 year contract has since skyrocketed, the last raise coming just last year when the FFF (French Football Association) encouraged a bidding war between Adidas, Puma and Nike, which resulted in Nike winning the right to kit the French national team for the ludicrous sum of €42.6 million (AUD $68.75 million) per year.
Ricardo Teixeira, head of the CBF, used as an excuse to jack up the going rate for Nike as the France deal was worth almost three times as much as what Brazil were receiving.
Nike also sponsors more than half of the Brazil team, including Robinho and Elano, as well as England’s star striker Rooney, and such exposure on the feet of the heroes of a generation is worth every cent to Nike.
England, too, has a pretty handy sponsor on board with Umbro, a Nike subsidiary. Their shirt deal, which runs until at least 2014, is reportedly worth more than £20 million (AUD $36.25 million) per year for the English FA.
So we have two FAs with contracts – eight-figure contracts – just to have a logo on a kit. Money for nothing? No, there’s no such thing as a free lunch.
Just look at the advertising campaigns of Nike. That is what the millions of these kit sponsors buy, access to international superstars and that is one of the main reasons a match like this takes place, pitting world superstars from different federations against one another normally only happens in a World Cup.
Once every four years is not enough for the fat-cats of the FAs.
That is why no international window goes unused and these friendly matches get put into an already bulging schedule. This will be England’s eleventh fixture of the season and their fifth friendly.
Capello might claim it is “important” to play a team like Brazil, and yes the preparation for WC2010 might be valuable, but he isn’t fooling anyone.
That he is now a mere media-puppet of the English FA is sad indeed.
No-one in power is thinking of the players here.
Colin N
Guest
"Both countries fielded B Teams with one big name each" Julia Cesar, Lucio, Maicon, Thiago Silva (I think), Filipe Melo, Gilberto Silva, Kaka and Luis Fabiano all first choice for Brazil. Dunga also likes Elano and he could also be considered as first choice
Freud of Football
Roar Guru
As they lined up: Brazil: Julio Cesar, Maicon, Lucio, Thiago Silva, Michel Bastos, Felipe Melo, Silva, Elano, Kaka, Nilmar, Luis Fabiano England: Foster, Brown, Upson, Lescott, Bridge, Wright-Phillips, Barry, Jenas, Milner, Rooney, Bent. Does anyone still think this was worthwhile? Both countries fielded B Teams with one big name each. A complete and utter joke and wasn't it interesting to see how many players came up injured in the lead up to the match? Johnson, Lampard, Terry etc etc etc etc etc etc etc.
Freud of Football
Roar Guru
http://goal.com/en-gb/news/2558/news/2009/11/13/1622678/manchester-city-striker-robinho-rules-himself-out-of-brazils - I see Robinho is out, it will probably end up being Brazil B vs England B but still, so many people want to see the two heavyweights go head-to-head that it doesn't matter, as long as one team is kitted up in Nike Gold and the other White with Umbro diamonds, everyone seems to be happy.
FiX
Guest
Thats not all the reasons... Qatar has a major hand in this... November 14th is a big day on the world arena...The last day for World Cup Qualifier matches... As far as the middle east locale goes, there are two critical matches - one for Bahrain v/s New Zealand in Wellington, and another for Egypt v/s Algeria in Cairo. As things would normally go, there would be no cameras in Qatar on this day. But no, Qatar wont accept that if they can pay for otherwise...so whats the best way to grab attention? Qatar has in the past continuously attempted to ''steal the light'' and ''make a name and place on the map for themselves'' using silly petrodollars... As such Qatar does not have any matches on this day due to their disqualification a while back, so there is a definite attempt at deliberately distracting media and crowd attention on this day, Nov 14th, especially to distract supporters from their little but determined neighbor and political and sport enemy Bahrain...This isnt the first time...when Bahrain for example worked hard to host the Formula 1 race, Qatar made a bidding file overnight rejected almost instantly, and to spite its neighbor Qatar used the petrodollars to build a huge circuit in record time - Losail, to host the MotoGP championship... And all the more reason it is Bahrain that had a major role in Qatar disqualifying from the WC due to a 1-0 home win in Bahrain... Money talks :D
SImone`
Guest
Maybe we should just get rid of international football all together. I'm sure the clubs would love that...
Michael C
Roar Guru
A bit sad, this guy 'Enke' from Germany ( a goalie ) who's been killed by the train (the potential suicide).
dasilva
Guest
As other people have pointed out. There is a bid for two world cup for 2018 and 2022. Also there's no reason why you can't support your own bid for one world cup and England for the other world cup Secondly. There's also preference deals. Just like in Australian politics where preference play a large role in who wins the seat, preference play a large role in who win the bid Example For the 2006 world cup The Oceania representative Charles Dempsey first choice preference was England for pretty obvious reasons (as England is an english speaking country and culturally similar to Australia and large ex-pat Australian community there). However the 2nd preference has infamously determine who won the bid. He was told by oceania to vote for south africa but pressure, threats, bribes by other nations made him have "intolerable pressure" that made him abstain his vote giving Germany the world cup. England winning the 2nd preference when all the asian nations are eliminated will be essential in winning the world cup bid.
danny
Guest
there are two world cups being voted for. qatar are only bidding for 2022. nothing stopping their representative (bin hamman) from voting for england in the 2018 bid. especially if either a) the asian bids have already been eliminated, or b) they work out some reciprocal deal where qatar/asia votes for england in 2018, and england likewise votes asia for 2022. it's not an entirely unrealistic scenario.
Rob
Guest
Voting takes place in rounds with candidates elimnated progressively....so its just as important not to make enemies of your competitors because allegiances can transfer once bids start getting knocked out. Any first round votes for Qatar would be up for grabs if they were eliminated.
tony yeboah
Guest
To make money, you have to take risks, whether that be taking a risk on the stock exchange, or taking a risk playing a nonsensical friendly in the Middle East. Wayne Rooney gets paid extremely handsomely for paying for England, Man Utd and his sponsorships. He may not get accolades for playing this friendly, but that is that what he has to do. I sometimes have to do things re: the media in my profession that i sometimes don't want to do. But hey, i get paid well for my job so sometimes you have to suck it up and take it. Do the players play too many games, well that is another topic, but who is taking the risk vs reward of money, because lets be honest, the players are making just as much money as the FA, the CBF, the sponsors etc. etc.
Rob
Guest
You do realise it will be winter in RSA come June/July...my saffa mate tells me it gets pretty cold that time of year
Freud of Football
Roar Guru
I'm sure Rooney would give his left nut to score the winning goal in the WC final, but maybe he won't make it there, with every game there comes a risk of injury, I'm sure Rooney wants to win the EPL and the CL again, hence he'll give everything in those games and if he gets injured then the sacrifice might be worth it, but in this friendly, it's risk vs reward of money, not accolades.
tony yeboah
Guest
Hey Freud, Good article, but i think that it opens more cans of worms than can be answered. Money, money, money, it is what rules modern football. Years and years ago we would say that professional athletes only have a short timeframe to make money for the rest of there lives, but now....? I think that Ronaldo will make more than enough for a hell of a lot of lifetimes. Friendlies are often a joke at the best of times, but lets face it, the Middle East pays the money, the associations want the money, the players want the money, the agents want the money, who else wants the money? And greasing the chains of power are well known. Whether it is a favour to Kentaro, a favour for some votes for the WC bid, a favour to sponsors, well that is just the way it works now. Just to your above points, well i disagree that the game is not a good warm-up. Isn't the point of these friendlies (of many reasons as we are discussing) to test out players on the fringe to see if they can step up in a World Cup. Ashley Cole is injured from a Champions League game, this can happen just before the WC, so who can step up to replace him, a player who proved themselves in extremely difficult conditions in Doha, or....? And just lastly, a comment on the clash of modern club football vs international football. When i was a kid growing up, i didn't understand the value of money, but i did dream of hitting the winning runs for Australia, scoring the winning goal for St.Kilda in a Grand Final (could have done with me this year!)....don't you think that a young Wayne Rooney dreamed of the same things. Modern football might be all about money, cynical and commercial, but when it comes down to it, despite the money on offer at Man Utd, the Champions League, the FA cup, i still think that Wayne would give a lot of it all back to score that winning goal in the World Cup final in South Africa next year. If that means travelling to Doha and playing a meaningless friendly with suspect motives, well maybe that is just a sacrifice that the players and fans need to make. Cheers
Vinay Verma
Roar Guru
I'll let you work this out with dasilva as I am immersed in the cricket at the moment. I should know my limitations.
Vinay Verma
Roar Guru
True Tah..as far as I know Gayle and all his team recieved the money...some of them reinvested it with Stanford immediately but Gayle did not . The ECB recieved 3 million and shared 2 mill among the counties. In August this year the counties were thinking of giving the money to charity.
Freud of Football
Roar Guru
Vinay, the bids for the next two WCs are currently being plotted. Qatar (hosts of this friendly) have put their hand up as have England. What political ideal would convince the Qatari's to vote for England? It goes not only against their own bid but the greater plan of their federation, that makes no sense. Dasilva has made a moot point.
Freud of Football
Roar Guru
I'd like to reiterate a few points here. Firstly, this game has nothing to do with the WC. Look at the squad Capello has taken, strong yes but it certainly doesn't resemble his final squad and the strength is as not to embarass themselves, not to mention the gaurantees Kentaro would have required as part of their contractual obligations (I imagine they would be VERY unhappy that Beckham won't be playing). To suggest that this game is a good warm-up is nonsense. Here are some the players missing, those with an asterisk would be expected to make the final squad if fit: GK: James*, Robinson, Carson Def: A. Cole*, R. Ferdinand*, King, Jagielka, M. Richards* Mid: Beckham*, Gerrard*, Lennon, Walcott, Downing, Hargreaves* Att: Heskey*, C. Cole, Agbonlahor No fewer than 8 players, who, if fit are pretty much certainties to make the final 23 not to mention a few borderliners like Lennon and Walcott. England has no idea where or who they will be playing and they have an experienced squad, sure they might gain something from a friendly with Brazil, that is possible, but why not have it in England if they have to play it? Or even continental Europe? Why in Doha, in 30 degree heat in the middle of the European season. This game is a favour to Kentaro, how much of this company is owned by the Qatari's? It might be swiss-based but I could imagine they have some poil-rich investors. The Qatari's have their finger in a lot of pies including Barclay's and the london stock exchange. Now look at Liverpool's squad, a few months into the season and they could already use a break but G Johnson will be lining up, he was their best player last night so does anyone truly think Rafa wants him playing in this game? Or what about Rooney? United can ill-afford to lose him. Same with Bent at Sunderland. This is an unnecessary game with a higher risk of injury than normal (due to the travel and sudden climate change). FIFA might be required to compensate any injuries to players on international duty but they can't compensate a Rooney or Terry missing the WC by picking up a serious injury in a nothing game. Is that what it takes for people to realise the magnitude of this greed?
Vinay Verma
Roar Guru
Freud without knowing the intricacies of Football politics the point Dasilva makes is about favours and calling them in. Thats part and parcel of big business and politics.
Freud of Football
Roar Guru
No guys, for starters Qatar is bidding for the WC themselves, I hardly think they are going to go out of their way to support someone elses bid not to mention that Australia and Japan are also bidding from Asia. The AFC federations will be expected to stick together (as will the countries of all the other federations).
Freud of Football
Roar Guru
Yeah, it was a total disgrace. They made millions by playing some marquee testimonial game for some totally unknown player.