Do footballers deserve the money they earn?

First of all, my answer to this, is yes and no.

As an Arsenal fan, I am sad to see that one of our most gifted players is leaving, and also that this will be on a free transfer.  And of course, this had led to the accusation that footballers are overpaid.  While I do agree in fair pay for all, I do think that the use of the money that footballers earn is a convenient way of distracting people from the divide in earnings when it comes to others.  Footballers, are entertainers, most do not earn the riches seen in the higher leagues, and considering that premiership rights are sold across the world, is it wrong to just focus on the money that they earn, and not look at the money paid to Hollywood stars for the money that they earn?  



Even this distracts from how much money others earn.  We live in a world where the rise in income for those who earn the least is less in percentage terms compared to those who earn the most.  In the UK, CEO's earn as much in three days than those who work for them earn in a year.  That is not right and by focusing on the amount an elite footballer will earn, it distracts voters from who is really earning the most in our dysfunctional world.

So I will be wishing Aaron Ramsey good luck when he plays in Italy, and I will be sorry to see him leave.  I do wish that we lived in a world were fair pay for all existed, but under the current 'rules' of earning money, I think that it is wrong to demonise footballers for the money they earn while ignoring those who earn money through other means.