It should be borne in mind that illegal payments to sportsmen have a long and illustrious history.

"Boot money" goes back at least to ninetenth century England, and the emergence of competitive soccer under the auspices of the Football Association.

"By 1885... professional football was a stark reality, but the FA refused to acknowledge its existence, let alone sanction the practice. Consequently clubs continued to make payments routine - underhand payments to their players in the form of "boot money", where wads of cash would be placed in their boots before a game. Alternativey, players would be found employment with a sympathetic local employer - ideally the club chairman or a club director - who would not be perturbed if he failed to perform on the factory floor, so long as he performed on a Saturday afternoon"
'From boot money to Bosman: football, society and the law' David McArdle

Sounds remarkably familiar.

But it is the direction it is all heading that should be of concern to sports lovers.

The FA is the ruling body of the English Premier League, which is now 100% business, complete with Clubs listed on the Stock Exchange.

And carrying massive debt, too... US$5.3bn

http://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/article/124518

One FA club, Arsenal, is now famous for fielding entire sides without a single English (or even British) player. This is a fair example of what happens when you allow business to take the place of sport. It is certainly the death knell of the last remnants of the "local club". (Belly, take note.)

It's a slippery slope, people. Not only is it not a particularly enticing journey, it doesn't have a very satisfatory destination.

$5.3 billion?

What a waste... think of all the plasma screens people go into hock over just to watch these debtors on!

Still, it's only US dollars, so not quite so much really after all.

$5.3 billion... probably more than the cost of the UK NHS scheme, or their school funding... or replacement Landrovers in Iraq... or Belfast.

Almost enough to do something 'productive' with...

Shame no one has any ideas for 'productive use' when there is a 'market' to keep feeding... and mugs to keep feeding it.