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Chief executives at big banks make a lot of money. Mining magnates make a lot of money. Actors make a lot of money. And yet no one flutters an eyelid.
But when a high profile sportsman decides to take a big pay cheque in the twilight of his career, an inevitable media and fan backlash ensues.
Tim Cahill’s decision to accept a contract with Chinese club Shanghai Shenhua and pocket close to a suspected $10 million has received a mixed reaction back home in Australia. There have been murmurs that he’s greedy, there have been suggestions that he should be giving back to the country, and some are upset that the FFA didn’t do more to bring him to the A-League.
It’s all gone a bit too far, not least when ageing and equally wealthy radio presenter John Laws bizarrely questioned his motives on air last week.
Cahill earns more money than the average Australian, get over it. If he wants to make the most of a chance to earn that wage, let him get on with it.
The Socceroo is nearing the end of his career (though he’ll likely disagree, and with good reason) and is well within his rights to take one final big pay day. Sportsmen, particularly world class footballers, fall into that small category of careers where you can earn big bucks.
It’s not really fair, but the world is unfair. A disproportionate amount of people control most of the wealth and that isn’t changing anytime soon, not if the best people can do is whinge about a sports star. At least Australia’s population can rest assured that they won’t go starving in the near future.
So why is it that some in our society can’t accept that Cahill wants to earn close to $10 million over three years? It is staggering, I’ll admit, and personally I have little idea what you would spend it on, and why. But some people like lavish lifestyles, and that requires cash.
Given the chance, many Australians would love to earn such an amount for three years’ work. But would they be willing to give similar sacrifices to get there? Cahill has worked his arse off since he was a teenager to get to this level, to get to this mecca of lucrative contracts. He’s left behind family, friends, a beautiful climate and his comfort zone to push himself to the top.
At least Cahill is earning his cash from a relatively worthy cause – entertaining the general public – when compared to others earning similar amounts.
Okay, so it’s not exactly saintly, heroic, or selfless, but it’s a whole lot better than those grabbing pay packets from exploiting home loans or digging up minerals at the expense of our environment.
Cahill brings joy to many people’s lives, he provides them with an escape from the harsh realities of life. He’s an entertainer, and he’s bloody good at it. So if a club wants to give him a hefty wage then let him take it.
I won’t say he deserves it, no one deserves such an amount of money. But that’s the football industry, if someone’s willing to pay it then so be it. Regardless, he definitely doesn’t deserve to be chastised for his ability to earn big.
Unfortunately Cahill’s in the public eye, and apparently that makes him fair game. Sports fans are obsessive when it comes to their favourite hobby, and because of that obsession they are constantly close to their idols.
Cahill is one of Australia’s most famous Socceroos, which means there’s a sense of familiarity about him. We feel as if we know him, because we’ve been exposed to his face so often. Many have seen him up close, watched his exploits live on the field. That proximity doesn’t come with similar entertainers or chief executives earning big coin.
But if you’re harking up about Cahill earning big dollars, you’re targeting the wrong man. It’s his life, his money, his decision. What would you do in his position?
As for the calls that he owes his country to help develop football on our shores – bollocks. What does anyone owe their country? Blinded patriotism for the sake of it doesn’t make sense. The only person he should be looking out for is himself and his family. Those that have helped him along the way have likely received their reward through love and friendship.
It would be fantastic to see him play in the A-League, but if none of the clubs can match the bigger offer, than what do you expect? Cahill has constantly spruiked that he prefers to play for clubs with a long-term vision, and a three-year contract gives him a chance to make an impression.
Throughout his career Cahill has never been one to ditch old friends for money.
When he played with Millwall, he rejected big money moves to give back to the club that gave him a chance. When he was at Everton, there is no doubt he could have sent his agent off to find a bigger wage. In case you weren’t aware, Everton are not a rich club, and operated on a shoestring under David Moyes, battling against the odds.
During his peak, following the 2006 World Cup, it’s quite plausible that Cahill could have secured a big money move to one of the top four English sides. He definitely could have chased more money at clubs such as Newcastle United, West Ham and Tottenham, which were on an equal footing with Everton. But he bought into the Toffees’ vision, and payed them back with eight loyal seasons.
His move to America may have been partly spurred on by money, but then again he was going to a club that boasted the talents of Thierry Henry. For an avid football follower, playing with such a legend of the modern game would be a dream.
It’s not as if he’s ditching Australia for China either, because he was never actually here. It’s got nothing to do with loyalty, nothing to do with greed.
It’s likely Australian clubs were also unwilling, or more likely unable, to match Shanghai’s offer, both in terms of length and amount. And it can be argued that giving a 35-year-old such a big contract does not make sense in the current Australian football market.
It’s highly debatable whether Alessandro Del Piero offered value for money during his time at Sydney FC, and no offence to Cahill but the Italian legend is in a completely different league. Would signing Cahill for a similar amount make sense for an A-League club, where consolidation is really the key right now?
It would have been a huge coup to see him come home after a successful Asian Cup campaign, but we have to have realistic expectations about where Australian football lies in the global market. The A-League is also past needing marquee signings, fans want success and we saw that while Del Piero’s arrival brought attention, it didn’t provide on-field prosperity for the Sky Blues.
Cahill’s move to China should also be seen as a huge chance to extend Australia’s football credentials in Asia. We belong to the Asian Football Confederation, and having one of our biggest stars playing in the most populous country in the world can only be good PR.
Cahill is a PR machine, his activity and self promotion on social media is close to unbeatable. When he’s doing his thing in China – on and off the field – he’ll be deflecting attention back to Australia. Chinese fans will become intrigued, they’ll likely search for A-League news for the first time in their life. Even if it’s just once, it’s positive exposure.
And as for fans belittling the Chinese Super League’s credentials, watch before you judge. I doubt there are many supporters in Australia capable of making an educated assessment. This is a chance for us to embrace Chinese football too, which should also be seen as a lucrative opportunity to strengthen ties with a fast-growing economy.
Cahill’s move should be celebrated. It’s a sign of how far Australia has come in the football world. That one of our own is highly sought after, and capable of attracting large amounts of cash and adoration, is only a good thing. Good luck, Timmy, I hope you kill it.
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