Footballers... and how they are treated by their Manager

This may seem like a odd question to ask:

Are you aware of the CIPD or any law firms that have done any study on Footballers and how they are treated by their Manager?  I would be interested to read any report...

Premier League footballers are paid handsomely, although there are many footballers that are not paid a lot of money the lower down the leagues you go.  Some may argue the financial reward is worth the downside of certain behaviours!

My reason for asking is, footballers can be regularly shouted at (from the side lines, we see this on match days and on tv coverage), however, this behaviour can and does continue into the dressing room, which we do not see.  Footballers are reluctant to raise any grievance with a manager due to the likelihood they would never play for the club again and find it hard to get another club.  We now see things making football a more inclusive 'better' sport, with football players taking the knee to support issues of racial inequality, but there is often no support for players who are shouted out and singled out in front of other players in the dressing room.  There is the PFA which will give a some support if a footballer has been at a professional club at some point during their career, other than that a footballer can be left to work things out for themselves and put up with certain behaviours which appear to be acceptable in football, but had a similar situation occurred in an office environment (as one example) behaving in a certain way could potentially see you dismissed.

Many thanks

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  • The PFA is one of the most highly resourced Trade Unions in the country. (if in any doubt look at how much they pay their Chief Executive). They can and do influence football to a degree that other Trade unions can only dream of.

    However, I suspect there is zero appetite in the game for a serious change in the culture you describe. People will see it as always being thus and always will be. Its interesting as there is far more debate about the perils of heading a football (and some serious attempts to ban it) than the language used or its positive/negative effects on players. Alex Ferguson, one of the greatest managers of the modern era, was famous for the "hairdryer treatment" he gave some players. Indeed many look to him as a model.

    Indeed it wouldnt be acceptable in many professions.....but football for now is different and acceptable or not its likely to be here to stay
  • I agree the PFA do a great job, although as I had stated you would need to have been a professional footballer at some stage of your career. There are so many that haven't been a pro player!
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