| In countries all over the world the wages of | | | | Today professional soccer attracts multi-millionaires like |
| professional soccer players have continued to rise at | | | | a magnet and in some cases billionaires. These people |
| an alarming rate. This has lead to some calls for the | | | | have unimaginable resources available to invest in |
| introduction of a salary cap. This proposal usually | | | | football clubs. This is usually spent on new player |
| causes a great deal of debate with mixed opinions. | | | | transfer fees and wages. This has the effect of |
| Some people consider it to be a good idea while | | | | increasing transfer fees and also the wages these |
| others argue against it. Those from within the sport | | | | clubs are prepared to offer players in return for their |
| oppose it while many spectators are in favour. | | | | signature. |
| In the past, professional soccer had a maximum wage | | | | Like most things prices will continue to rise and that will |
| for players although this was abolished. The opponents | | | | never change. But there comes a time when people |
| of the salary cap argued that it was a restriction of | | | | ask if things have gone too far. Players already earn |
| trade and questioned the fairness and legality of the | | | | more in a week than the average supporter earns in a |
| rule. In those day's, players earned very modest | | | | year. We now have a situation where players are |
| amounts which are nothing like the huge numbers the | | | | taking home a six figure weekly wage which is |
| modern day footballer commands. | | | | madness when one considers the amount of poverty |
| At around the same time the career of a professional | | | | in the world. Speculation now exists on the arrival of |
| soccer player was considered to be a very short one. | | | | the £500,000 per week wage. |
| The average career was around ten years in length | | | | Collectively it is the responsibility of football clubs to |
| and afterward the players would have to seek | | | | behave in a sensible manner for the greater good of |
| alternative employment. Stories about former players | | | | the sport. Opinion on the introduction of a salary cap |
| who had retired and fell on hard times were | | | | may well be divided but one thing the majority of |
| commonplace. For a loyal supporter, it was not | | | | people unanimously agree on is that we are unlikely to |
| pleasant hearing how a former hero was struggling | | | | see the introduction of a maximum wage for |
| just to survive. | | | | professional soccer players. |