Back of the Net!

You only have to look at Italy and the disgraceful acts of the Teflon-coated Silvio Berlusconi to see how money, politics and football don’t mix.

So of course it came as no surprise to see that Thaksin Shinawatra, ex-PM of Thailand and former majority owner of Manchester City, has finally been charged with corruption crimes.

There are of course several things wrong with all of this.

First of all, the politicians. Who in their right mind would give someone who is already adept at lining their own pockets the responsibility to govern? Anyone hungry for power should be barred from ever holding office at any level.Secondly - there’s the money, isn’t there. It talks, to anyone it would seem, and certainly anyone with a career or aspirations based on power or glory. We all need it, we all want it - but some of us seem to have more than they know what to do with. Exactly how has running a football club become so prestigious and profitable for elite groups around the world while the real clubs that rely heavily on community support struggle to stay afloat?

Third and finally - the football and the politics and the money should never, ever be mixed. Two thrown together is bad enough, but all three? Shinawatra landed in the UK under a cloud, with all sorts of accusations that seemed very likely, yet he protested his innocence, with some degree of success. Yet the Premier League’s “fit and proper” test has been shown to be a total sham. Presumably Gary Glitter and Peter Sutcliffe would be permitted to purchase clubs on this showing, with Shinawatra sentenced to two years on Tuesday afternoon.

It is nonsense like this that really gets the goat of genuine football fans, both in the stands, in the pubs and in the armchairs. The beautiful game has far too much bullshit in it to remain beautiful for much longer.

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