Why Not Introduce Performance Based Contracts For Football Players?

Many of us are left with a bitter taste in the aftermath of a jaded world cup campaign, we were promised so much but nothing was delivered. Our taste bitters even further at the fact that each of the players and our manager have come home wrapped comfortably in their oversized paycheques and premiership status.

Possibly the worst outcome for the England squad was the security of Fabio Capello’s contract after an abysmal display in South Africa, weeks before the tournament was due to commence Capello argued for a re-write of his contract that would see a secure multimillion pound job for several years. Now back in the UK he can sit back and relax safe with the knowledge that he will never realistically have to deliver anything again before the next tournament. In order to relinquish him from his contract the FA would have to pay out a figure in the region of 12 million pounds as well as the rest of his salary payments for the remainder of his contract.

The question is raised yet again, why don’t our players and managers work on performance based contracts? They might worth the money when they are scoring goals and lifting trophies but otherwise they are undeniably overpaid. Many have argued that the introduction of performance based contracts would act as the best incentive to those who were not entirely motivated by glory.

Nowadays, most players and managers could easily manage without a paycheque for some time before their fridges became bare and many would never go hungry thanks to lucrative sponsorship deals and endorsements, so why not give them a ‘no win no fee’ contract. Although the possibility of no paycheque is not realistic the clubs could offer a standard rate of pay for each team member with attractive bonuses for good performance, this would make sure every player on the pitch gave it their all and those on the bench would train even harder to get the chance to have a shot. A contract could even state that if a player or manager was simply not performing they could face the sack or get sold to another club.

Sadly a culture of splashing cash has created a generation of football players who are more eager to follow the gold rather than lift it. Contracts and salaries based on performance would have to be introduced across a whole league rather than one team and even that could see many players flocking for warmer shores and deeper pockets.

Many players make more in sponsorship by wearing some Puma football boots than donning their Chelsea Football Shirt.

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