I'm generally morally indignant but when it comes to sportsmen I don't expect them to do any more than give their all to whoever is currently paying their salary. If they're lucky it's a short career, if they're unlucky then it's a very short career. Once they retire the earning potential for the vast majority drops hugely.
There's also a close correlation between those clubs that pay big wages and those clubs that compete for honours. It's always difficult to separate the two motives when a player moves to one of the bankrolled clubs.
Similarly with endorsements, within reason I don't really care who they are the face of. Scratch beneath the surface of most multinationals that can afford multi-million endorsements and there will be some murky behaviour. The fruit and veg alliance - should one even exist - probably aren't going to be throwing a £20m contract at Mo Salah.
The only caveat for me is when sportspeople market themselves as having a certain moral compass but then just conveniently forget about it when it suits. Guardiola and his yellow ribbon but indifference to the actions of his club's owners is a good example.
Exactly.
I don’t believe a player should say no to Abu Dhabi and PSG, as you say, short careers, huge wages that set them and families up for life.
My frustration isn’t with the players in these instances, it’s with the leagues allowing such owners. The issues should be taken to the very top. Turning a blind eye to sportwashing is a massive problem.
But yeah, I too take exeption to someone like Guardiola. And again, the fact that the majority of people - be it fans, the media, pundits, are absolutely ok with his hypocrisy, is as big an issue there.
