FOOTBALL’S SHAME
He says young players are treated as ‘assets’ not people as mental health crisis grows
PRINCE William has shamed football clubs for exploiting young players – and not caring about their mental health.
Wills, who is President of the Football Association, said too often youngsters, lured by millions in earnings, were tossed aside with no help if they didn’t make the grade.
Speaking as football legend Stan Collymore talked about the crisis and his depression, Wills said: “They are simply treated as financial assets. We’ve got to change the
whole way we look after players.”
PRINCE William has hit out at British football clubs for treating young players as “financial assets” without caring enough about their mental health.
The Duke of Cambridge – who rarely speaks so candidly – last night said clubs were neglecting their responsibilities and called for radical changes in the game.
Wills, who is President of the Football Association, said: “Many players come from difficult backgrounds and may have all sorts of issues. So just to have them as a complete financial asset… it’s a dereliction of duty.”
The Prince was applauded for his bold stand last night by Mirror Sport columnist Robbie Savage, who said: “It can only be a good sign Prince William, who genuinely cares for the game, is taking such an interest.
“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.”
The Prince warned that too many clubs simply drop young players if they fail to reach a required standard, with no thought as to how to support them in building a new life. William, 36, made the astonishingly frank comments during a meeting at Windsor Park, home of the Irish Football Association in Belfast, on a two-day visit.
The Aston Villa fan said: “Some clubs don’t do anything about mental health. We’ve got to change the whole way we look after players.”
William’s comments to members of Ahead of the Game, an organisation that delivers mental health support to grassroots football clubs, are sure to hit home across the game.
He spoke as former England and Liverpool striker Stan Collymore was deluged with support after revealing his latest bout of depression left him “in bed for 20 hours a day”.
The Mirror columnist has suffered with mental illness for a number of years, like many other big names.
William’s comments have been echoed by the Professional Footballers’ Association after it emerged last year that a record number of players approached the body for support with mental health problems.
William, in Northern Ireland with wife Kate until this afternoon, also raised a case for more support to the LGBTQ community in sport. The Duke added: “We’re working on something with the FA at the moment, trying potentially to get a mental health FA Cup for a really punchy campaign that we can base something around.”
The royal couple had a kick around with children who presented them with shirts at the stadium yesterday afternoon.
Dad of three William has spoken openly of his own mental health battles in his role as a helicopter pilot for the air ambulance.