Transfer fantasies abound as no one wants to look at child abuse in football

 

By Tony Attwood

• Arsenal: When has it ever been as good (or as utterly stupid*) as this?

The King’s Speech is the speech that the King reads out in the House of Lords on the occasion of the State Opening of Parliament. It sets out the legislation that we can expect to see in the coming months.  

And in the last King’s Speech the King confirmed plans for regulating the future of English football.   It was said that an Independent Regulator for Football would be set up.

And… we are still waiting although we have had a briefing document which talked about the fragility of the football pyramid noting the end of Bury FC, the plans for the Super League, and the need for “financial regulation compliance, corporate governance and fan engagement.”  Plus the usual tests for club owners, and a restriction on clubs joining unlicensed leagues (ie Super League)

Meanwhile, various reports suggest that Everton, Sheffield Wednesday, Reading, and Scunthorpe are all in difficulty, despite the Football and Premier League generating £5.5 billion.  It is said that La Liga generates only half this much.  On the other hand the debt across clubs in the top two divisions is said to be around £4.4bn.

But the question has to be asked, “is anyone actually running the show?”

A series of extremely serious allegations by a parent this year, about the ill-treatment of his child at a football league club, has allegedly been met by a series of “nothing to do with us” comments from the FA and the Football League.

I’ve commented on this before, but the fact that the media won’t pick up on the story (presumably because the clubs and their organisations will blacklist the journalists if they run any critical stories) suggests that there putting the current operators of football (The Football League and the FA) in charge of the new organisation.  That  could be the worst thing that can happen.

How can it be that in a supposedly civilised country such as England, no one wants to know about a case of child abuse, with everyone saying, “nothing to do with us”?

The argument could just about be sustained by the point of view that the new independent regulator is about to be appointed, and he will want to look into such a serious matter.

But the current Parliament (which will appoint the regulator of football) can surely only have a few months left in its life before a general election comes along.  So it looks like that idea is being swept under the carpet, to allow the abuse of children in terms of them not getting the medical attention they need when injured, will be allowed to continue.

The delay in appointing a regulator is primarily not about hiding the abusers, but about the finances of football.  But the delay is meaning the abuse of children can continue.

But the reason for the delay is that there is a disagreement between the Premier League and Football League over the amount that can be spent on players each year particularly when clubs are relegated from the Premier League to the Football League.

Meanwhile the media, while on occasion criticising clubs for the amount they spend on players make transfer rumours, (97% of which don’t come to fruition see our research over the ;last three summers) carry on with their constant chit-chat about which clubs are signing who.

Even The Athletic, which purports to be a little more closer to reality than the mass media indulges in this sort of thing saying on 1 March Arsenal are looking at Benjamin Sesko, Viktor Gyokeres, Evan Ferguson,  Pedro Neto, Martin Zubimendi with  Aaron Ramsdale, Kieran Tierney, Nuno Tavares, Albert Sambi Lokonga, Emile Smith Rowe and Eddie Nketiah all leaving.

That’s 11 names  On the three percent accuracy basis probably none of them is right.

And this is the problem.  The financial future of football is a major issue.  The financial arrangements between the Premier League and the Football League is a major issue.  Child abuse through children being overplayed and not being stood down for suitable medical treatment is a major issue – but it gets squeezed out by the first two.

Yet what do we get in the media?   Here are some headlines that have emerged on News Now in the last hour.  (Yes just the last hour).

• Exclusive: Arsenal sensation to sign record-breaking deal after Man City offer rejected.
• Manchester City closing in on £85 million-rated midfielder following Arsenal rejection.
• ‘Keep an eye on him’ – Reporter comments as Chelsea, Arsenal eye Sunderland mainstay.
• Arsenal set to ‘lose the next Phil Foden’ as Mikel Arteta’s squad-building plans hit rocks.
• Report: Arsenal player could move to Barcelona for free this summer, wanted to join them years ago.