Football, as a high profile sport, has always had a close relationship with alcohol. Indeed, ever since footballers became stars a drug of choice has always accompanied the lifestyle. In what would seem like a paradoxical way of life, it is commonly viewed as a complete flout of the professionalism that accompanies sports stardom. Moreover, it snuffs the stimulation produced by professional sports, the crowd, the game, the money would be enough to satisfy any man. But as history informs us, and the media of today consistently publicise, the need for ‘the lifestyle’ is as prominent today as it ever has been, just with a different face.
To discover an explanation, we must discover a source. Dependence and compulsion are engineered on the back of specific circumstances, contributing factors and powerful, but unstoppable catalysts. To understand why there is still a need for a drug, and what has led to this shift in form, we must the many contributing factors that together create the illustrious ‘footballers lifestyle.’
The man who has it all theory
How do you spot a sexually frustrated middle aged American? He owns a Chevy and has a swimming pool in his backyard. Maybe he constructed a bar in his front room, or bought a recreational shotgun. The point being, that to most Americans, materialism is god. But what do you give a man that, at 18, has all these things with the spending power to do it all again, bigger and better? The average yearly wage for Premiership footballers in 2006 was £676000, and that before things got crazy. Before Abramovich bought it all, and then Al Mubarek upped that bid. Footballers now earn more in a week than most people earn in 4 years, and this, leads to adultery and sex addictions. The explanation is simple: when materialism no longer applies, something else has to fill the void. Sex, although it can (and sometimes is) bought, is an action of free will that is something more than a simple transaction. It can boost morale, self worth and confidence and can be done behind closed doors, away from the emotional stress tied with professional sports. Put simply, the man who has it all doesn’t cease craving more, he must simply find what money can’t buy.
Disciplinarian hypothesis
The transition from alcohol to sex is plausibly a consequence of disciplinarian environments created by a multiple number of factors. One of the most significant of those being managerial discipline. Gone are the days of half time drinks or team piss ups. Gone are the reckless nights out or binge drinking. Managers now enforce professionalism upon their players in a far more disciplinarian manner than ever before. Whether it be calling their homes at night or even dragging them out of clubs personally, it is no longer acceptable for Premiership footballers to excessively use alcohol or drugs in their recreational time. But sex, is a different story. Alex Ferguson, for example, is very typical of the tyrant I am trying to portray here. But it is hard to imagine him pulling Wayne Rooney out of bed with a prostitute mid- session! And I am sure Carlo Ancellotti found it hard to talk Ashley Cole back into his relationship, as crazy as he appears to us all! So sex is almost an untouchable taboo, that is almost alone in defying the disciplinarian hypothesis.
The WAG model
It’s difficult not to portray this point based on generalities or stereotypes. But the WAG model seems to deflate the self worth and respect for the women in a footballers relationship. The role of a WAG permeates all aspects of their lives, but satisfies an essentially simple function. In what is the 21st centuries polite excuse for medieval chauvinist bigotry, the WAG must look presentable at all times (full stop). Forgive me for being narrow- minded, but in a world where Peter Crouch can marry a beautiful model, and then cheat on her, we must relate to the ‘football- money- stardom’ thing as being a contributing factor; and so it is here: the WAG is degraded into little more than a fashion accessory, based on the model in which she entered the relationship. The WAG, as a model, loses some credibility that could feasibly act as a reason why footballers feel ok about, well, acting the way they do.
Exposure conjunction
The final reason, isn’t really a reason; more an explanation. The rise in stardom that has fallen hand in hand with the new money, has simply led to more exposure. Maybe George Best was a sex addict as well as an alcohol, it just wasn’t exposed. As we stand in an age of sensationalism and scandal, the smallest infringements of relationships, or the rumours, the accusations: will go publically punished like never before. The multiple conjunctions of modern media, make exposure the most probable explanation here: That footballers were always the same, but what was behind the door is now the common knowledge of modern society.
The Troublesome Team
Tony Adams Defence John Terry Defence Ahley ColeDefence
Suffered drink problems in Cheated on his wife with Cheated on his wife
1980’s, which culminated in co player Wayne Bridge’s Cheryl Cole with his
Crashing his car 4 times over girlfriend secretary.
the Limit.
Paul Gasgoine Midfield
Entered rehab multiple
Times because of alcohol.
Also been caught drink
Driving on multiple occassions
George Best Striker Wayne Rooney Striker
Eventually died as a result Recently exposed for
Of alcohol abuse in 2005. Sleeping with a prostitute
Probably the most prolific for the second time
Football alcoholic
Manager: Sven Goran Errikson Brian Clough
Involved in many high Alcohol with a strong
Profile sex scandals belief in the family and
That were particularly relationship. Died from
Well publicised. Alcoholism in 2004
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