How Much is Too Much?

Does a man deserve to get paid $405,000 a week to kick a ball into a large metal rectangle? The median income in 2009 for the United States one of, if not the, most wealthy countries on earth was $49,777 a year (Info from US Census). How could a group justify paying someone so much for professionally taking part in a recreational activity like soccer?


The argument can, will, and does go on and on as people on both sides wrestle over player salaries. The discussion itself doesn’t really get to the true issue of the matter and doesn’t really achieve anything. The problem that is beginning to present itself in the world of football is the financial collapse. Much like AIG and many of the other companies that found themselves ready to collapse due to poor financial management, football seems to be taking a turn for the worse.

At the center of the problem is the football club’s greatest asset and expenindature, the footballer himself. The salary noted above belongs to no other than the great Wayne Rooney. Rooney penned the new deal after talks of perhaps looking to leave Old Trafford. The salaries and transfer fees for players continue to climb higher and higher, and with rapid speed. Our current Premier League season has seen the move by Chelsea for Fernando Torres for 50 million pounds. Later that same month Andy Carroll broke the transfer record for an Englishman when he was purchased by Liverpool for 35 million pounds. Is this kind of spending sustainable?

The answer is no. Football clubs are spending too much money and without thought of the long term effects of their decisions. The fact of poor financial management has even been seen by UFEA who passed new rules over who can compete in the International Club competition based on the financial standing of their clubs. Running up massive debts to pay more and more money for and to these superstars does not make sense. At a certain point the spending needs to slow down. The amount of money being spent of players is too much and it is causing the game harm. The reason why the Premier League is the best is because it is the most competitive. If the current trend continues the best team will simply be the team with the largest amount of money (aka Manchester United, Chelsea, Arsenal, and Liverpool). One day the question has to be answered, how much is too much?