ROBBIE FOWLER Toney’s ban smacks of hypocrisy and hides real issues with sponsors and owners
Our Anfield legend always hits the mark
IT’S time that football took a long, hard look at itself over some of the associations that it has with sponsors and owners.
I can’t help thinking that an eightmonth ban for Ivan Toney over betting irregularities, when it seems half the clubs in the country have some form of gambling on their shirts, is just a tiny bit hypocritical.
I guess it’s the same with owners. There’s a lot of hand-wringing over the money spent by certain clubs in this country, and across the continent, but no appetite – it seems – to do something about it.
I’m not just talking about Manchester City or Newcastle United.
There are plenty of clubs with dubious connections and similar questions about the money pumped into the club but, so far, nothing more than a few slaps on the wrist. So I’m not ignoring any of that when I look beyond it, to individuals and their brilliance.
Pep Guardiola produced a masterclass against Real Madrid in midweek, and his players performed to the greatest heights I think we’ve seen from an English team.
Eddie Howe also deserves huge credit for what he has done at Newcastle, although I don’t think it’s inevitable they will qualify for the Champions League – Leicester are desperate, so anything can happen.
But I said a few weeks ago that I thought they had more than enough to get there, and I stick by that.
Look through the team and, yes, they’ve spent money.
They’ve signed a couple of players that maybe wouldn’t be there but for the Saudi takeover. However, look at Callum Wilson, for instance.
He was available to all the Premier League teams when Bournemouth went down in 2020. Plenty could have taken him... and plenty now wish they did (and yeah, I’m looking at you Everton).
He wasn’t a world-beater then, but right now he’s the in-form striker in the top flight, and a massive reason why they’re closing in on that top four place. Why?
Well, Wilson has worked incredibly hard, matured and developed under Eddie Howe, and flourished in the environment the manager has put in place at Newcastle. Should we dismiss what he’s achieved this season, because of the club he plays for?
Should we dismiss what Howe has done for the same reason? We can recognise their achievements, while condemning the game’s wider problems.
As someone who has been in the game his entire life, I can recognise the hard work and talent, and I applaud that.
Howe has produced a terrific team at St James’ Park, with a wonderful balance.
They are ferocious in defence, and equally fierce when they are attacking. And I think they will only get better.
Getting into the Champions League will help that, as will the money it brings – and yep, so will the Saudi money.
But until the football authorities get their own house in order, and examine their relationship with money and power, then it seems wrong that Toney will be the limit of their focus.