[Archived] The Webster Rule

[joey_big_nose]

It looks like the EU is trying to make footballers have exactly the same rights as all other workers; which is fine and very humane etc. So OK let's go for it, but along with the status of ordinary workers they must also get ordinary workers wages. Cant expect to have both ways. The players should be made to decide: do they want to be "stars" and have "stars" wages and all the other trappings that come with it? If theanswer is "yes" then they have to accept that contracts are the order of the day for that kind of lifestyle, and the clubs and the fans have rights too. In fact if they want all the "priveledges" of ordinary workers they should also get all the baggage that goes with that particular status; 40 hrs per week of actual work, not finish at lunch time and spend the afternoon on the golf course. Plus all the other "fringe benefits" such as multi-millionaire lifestyles.

It's high time that the fans got a hearing in the EU court to explain their case, and then let the players decide which way they want to go. Ordinary workers OR Big Time Charlie's as they are at present, but who don't seem to want the responsibilities that go with that.

THe whole point of the free market of labour is that you don't artificially control wages. The premiership has been so successful partly because it is a free market that generates loads of cash whihc in turn allows us to get the best players.

There are lots of different reasons why wage control is probalematic - including of course that players will move aborad, and that the amount of corruption would massively increase (players "loaning" their houses and cars from the clubs, "team buiding holidays" to the bahamas etc)

However one big issue which is neglected when discussing the topic of controlled wages is this:

Imagine a scenario where all players could not earn more than say £200,000 per annum (definately loads of cash, more than anyone could really argue is neccessary to have a very high standard of living) where would all the money go that originally was diverted into wages? This would be literally tens of millions pounds.

Currently it would go to the owners of the football teams. It would be a massive cash bonanza for the clubs. So what you would see is a huge frenzy of foreign buyers trying to buy into this cash cow. And you would see instead of players getting seven or eight figure yearly salaries it would be back room staff (managers, coaches, physios, "directors of football" who specialise in charming players into signing for a certain clubs) as this is where competitive advantage could be bought with the cash as you cannot entice players with money.

So then I guess, to make things fair, you would have to impose a "maximum wage" on back room staff too. And also I guess force clubs to lower the price on the gate so that the "regular fan" sees some of the benefit of all this free cash available from massively reduced wages.

And of course to ensure that all of these massively ballooning regulations are carried out correctly and, crucially, fairly, you will need a massive and presumably independent beauraucracy. And, in the end, this is where all your money would go. Millions of pounds per annum would be spent on administrators, legislators and inspectors to make sure everyone is playing ball correctly. And of course they would not.

In a way people pay to see the players not beauraucrats. Why not let the players have the money?

[BRFC95]

However one big issue which is neglected when discussing the topic of controlled wages is this:

Imagine a scenario where all players could not earn more than say £200,000 per annum (definately loads of cash, more than anyone could really argue is neccessary to have a very high standard of living) where would all the money go that originally was diverted into wages? This would be literally tens of millions pounds.

Some of it could be paid as a win bonus, paid to players only involved in the win. Players happy to sit in the stands only getting the basic.

The bigger a clubs income, the bigger the bonuses they can pay.

[Eddie]

So football is heading in the horrific direction of the NFL? Salary caps and all that crap.

A salary cap would be the greatest thing to happen to this league in a long time, but let's base it on the NBA or MLB rather than the NFL.

[Head Rover Heels]

where would all the money go that originally was diverted into wages? This would be literally tens of millions pounds.

Currently it would go to the owners of the football teams. It would be a massive cash bonanza for the clubs. So what you would see is a huge frenzy of foreign buyers trying to buy into this cash cow.

Of course, you could argue that that is the appeal at the moment.

People seem to think that it is a way of unscrupulous businessmen "cleaning" their reputation, or that it is something to do with "a plaything".

Personally, it looks to me like the vultures are circling - There is a massive income already being generated in the premier league. The new owners that are coming in droves will be looking for a way to channel some of that back already. I would have thought the possibility of salary caps etc have crossed the minds of more than one of the new incumbents.

[American]

A salary cap would be the greatest thing to happen to this league in a long time, but let's base it on the NBA or MLB rather than the NFL.

MLB doesn't have a cap. I do like the idea of a "luxury tax" like most of them have. Any amount spent on wages over a certain sum and you have to pay into a pot which gets distributed to the rest of the league.

With relegation, you won't have the problem that we have here with the Kansas City Royals, where they spend little, take in the luxury tax payments and have a crap team every year.

[joey_big_nose]

MLB doesn't have a cap. I do like the idea of a "luxury tax" like most of them have. Any amount spent on wages over a certain sum and you have to pay into a pot which gets distributed to the rest of the league.

With relegation, you won't have the problem that we have here with the Kansas City Royals, where they spend little, take in the luxury tax payments and have a crap team every year.

Good work Kansas! Sort of like the sporting team equivalent of someone undeserving living on benefit....!

I too think a luxery tax is a good idea and a wage cap a bad idea. The luxery tax works as it fundementally works within the market (like trade duty) whereas the salary cap seeks to contain it (like, well, a salary cap) which is counter productive as it stifles competition, trade and requires huge legislation and enforcement.

How could we get a luxery tax to be taken on? It would make a massive difference and I think would have appeal across the European game.