Prince William slams football clubs over mental health care, says they see players as investments and not humans
The royal is President of English football's governing body Football Association.
By PTI | Updated:
Agencies
Prince William
LONDON: Prince William has launched a withering broadside at football clubs, lambasting them for a "dereliction of duty" in their lack of care for players' mental health. Prince William, who along with younger brother Prince Harry have spoken openly about their own mental health issues, said clubs appeared to only see the players as investments not as human beings.
"Some clubs don't do anything about mental health. We've got to change the whole way we look after players," the 36-year-old Prince said to members of Ahead of the Game, an organisation that delivers mental health support to grassroots football clubs.
"Many players come from difficult backgrounds and may have all sorts of issues going on.
Prince William plays football during their 2-day North Ireland tour "So just to have them as a complete financial asset...it's a dereliction of duty, I think." Prince William, who decried the manner in which players are "discarded" and said they should be "supported" instead of the clubs wiping their hands of them and told to "move on", said he was in talks with the FA over the possibility of organising a "Mental Health FA Cup".
ADVERTISEMENT
"We're working on something with the FA at the moment, trying potentially to get a mental health FA Cup to have a really punchy campaign we can base something around," said the Prince, who is a noted supporter of second tier English side Aston Villa.
Prince William's rare outspoken comments drew praise from across the football community including Michael Bennett, the Professional Footballers' Association's head of welfare.
It emerged last year a record number of players approached the body for support with mental health problems.
"Clearly, not everyone is earning 100,000 pound (USD 133,000) a week," said Bennett.
ADVERTISEMENT
"There are things you don't see. Players could suffer an untimely death in the family or suffer a serious injury.
Prince William plays football with wife Kate during their 2-day North Ireland tour "Money isn't going to stop emotional feelings surfacing," he said.
ADVERTISEMENT
Several former and current high profile players have spoken of their battles with mental issues including Tottenham Hotspur and England star Danny Rose, former England international Aaron Lennon and the now retired Stan Collymore.
Collymore, 48, is presently struggling admitting for the last three weeks he has been sleeping for 20 hours a day revealing his "longing never to wake" but he said the Prince's remarks could be a game changer for the issue.
"Prince William's comments will carry a serious amount of clout and are potentially game-changing for the way mental health issues are dealt with in football," Collymore wrote in the Daily Mirror.
"If this doesn't resonate through the organisation, as guardians of the game, and through the corridors of power at the Premier League and the English Football League then, frankly, I don't know what will.
"Football is like a factory these days with clubs looking for the next Lionel Messi or Cristiano Ronaldo." Former Wales star Robbie Savage said Prince William's remarks would hopefully prompt the clubs to be more caring of those they let go.
"It can only be a good sign Prince William, who genuinely cares for the game, is taking such an interest," Savage told the Daily Mirror.
"This summer, dozens of teenagers who dream of a career in professional football will be released -- and it's important that they are not simply left to pick up the pieces."
Kate-Meghan, And Other Royal Feuds That Made Headlines
1/6
Rumours of a bitter fallout between the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle (right), and the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton (left), have been making headlines. But they aren’t the first aristocrats — or the last — to have a royal feud.
Rumours of a bitter fallout between the Duchess of Sussex, Meghan Markle (right), and the Duchess of Cambridge, Kate Middleton (left), have been making headlines. But they aren’t the first aristocra..
Read More
The frosty relationship between Sarah Ferguson (left) and Prince Philip (right), Duke of Edinburgh, has been no secret. Once Prince Philip’s favourite daughter-in-law, Fergie fell out of favour following her scandal-plagued divorce from Prince Andrew in 1996. While most of the royal family have put their past issues with Fergie aside, Prince Philip continues to hold a grudge. There were speculations that he wouldn’t attend the wedding of his granddaughter Princess Eugenie (Fergie and Andrew’s younger daughter). However, not only did he mark his presence, he even posed for photographs, the first time the pair was pictured together in 26 years.
The frosty relationship between Sarah Ferguson (left) and Prince Philip (right), Duke of Edinburgh, has been no secret. Once Prince Philip’s favourite daughter-in-law, Fergie fell out of favour follo..
Read More
The Dutch royal family had its share of scandal in 2003 when Princess Margarita (right), Countess of Colorno, washed their dirty linen in public. She claimed that the then Dutch Queen Máxima (centre) and her maternal aunt, Beatrix (left), had ordered the Dutch Secret Service to investigate Margarita’s husband, Edwin de Roy van Zuydewijn, who was a commoner. However, the marriage ended in divorce. Margarita got married again to a Dutch lawyer in 2008.
The Dutch royal family had its share of scandal in 2003 when Princess Margarita (right), Countess of Colorno, washed their dirty linen in public. She claimed that the then Dutch Queen Máxima (centre..
Read More
When in public, most royals prefer to project the image of a happy, regal family. But during Easter mass last year, the friction between Spain’s royal family was palpable. A video showed Queen Letizia (right) blocking photographers from taking a picture of her mother-in-law, Queen Sofia (left), with the former’s two daughters - Princess Leonor (second left) and Princess Sofia. In another video, Queen Letizia was found wiping off a kiss Queen Sofia planted on one of the princesses.
When in public, most royals prefer to project the image of a happy, regal family. But during Easter mass last year, the friction between Spain’s royal family was palpable. A video showed Queen Letiz..
Read More
In 2017, Prince Ernst August (not in pic), head of the nowdeposed royal House of Hanover, stirred up some royal drama when he announced a formal opposition to the marriage of his elder son, also known as Prince Ernst August (in pic), based on a simple premise: he wanted his castles back, along with family property deeded over to his son between 2004-2006. According to reports, August Sr, known for courting scandals, said that “the decision was not easy for me, because it concerns my son. But I am forced to do so in order to preserve the interests of the House of Hanover and the property, including cultural property, which has been its property for centuries”.
In 2017, Prince Ernst August (not in pic), head of the nowdeposed royal House of Hanover, stirred up some royal drama when he announced a formal opposition to the marriage of his elder son, also know..
Read More
Prince Henrik (in pic) of Denmark, who passed away last year, had his share of problems with the monarchy. After his wife Margrethe II became queen in 1972, Henrik became the first male consort in Danish history. In 2017, Henrik refused to be buried next to his wife in Roskilde Cathedral, the Danish royal burial place, unless he was named king. He claimed the title was gender discrimination. Six months after his death, half of Henrik’s ashes were scattered in the private garden at Fredensborg Castle. The other half were scattered in Danish waters.
Prince Henrik (in pic) of Denmark, who passed away last year, had his share of problems with the monarchy. After his wife Margrethe II became queen in 1972, Henrik became the first male consort in Da..
Business News › Magazines › Panache › Prince William slams football clubs over mental health care, says they see players as investments and not humansText Size:AAA
