Players Need More Education From Young Age

The story surrounding former Manchester City and Sunderland footballer Adam Johnson is one that you all no doubt know about.

I am not going to try and give you any kind of opinion on the finer details of that whole particular story. I do not think I am qualified enough to do so in all honesty.

However, one thing I do know is that public figures such as sports stars in the media spotlight really need to think about their actions in light of this court case.

Now, of course I realise there are plenty of football players of various ages and abilities who no doubt live their life honestly and no doubt appreciate what they have worked hard to achieve.

However, I do not think I could be blamed for stating that footballers, whether we talk about this incident or ones previously (search Lee Hughes, Ched Evans, Luke McCormick) do have this feeling that they can behave however they see fit, without consequence.

Of course they cannot and there are folk in all walks of live who are capable of committing crimes and damaging their reputation but it is more complicated than that.

Your average Premier League footballer will go through their career wanting for nothing. It will no doubt psychologically mean some of them will crave things that even for them are beyond limits.

Football clubs have a responsibility to make sure they take a hard line stance on any misgivings of a criminal nature and especially when it involves offences of a sexual nature.

Sunderland have failed in this regard.

There is a line. It cannot be crossed. Punishment should be the maximum and Adam Johnson has seen that this week.

More importantly than consequence though is the need for clubs to be proactive in the first place.

The Professional Footballers Association (PFA) have gone on the defensive stating that they do their best to educate, but they really must do more.

‘As the players’ union, we are very conscious of the role and responsibility of our members and we work hard to ensure they receive relevant information and important guidance regarding appropriate standards of conduct. Situations such as the Adam Johnson case unfortunately demonstrate that this is a vital area for our focus and that there is still much work to do.’ – PFA spokesperson

From a young age there needs to be education for players. Not just from the PFA but from each individual club at this high profile level.

Media training and the like only does so much. A team of staff who will drill it in to these young players heads exactly what it means to be in such a position at potentially such a young age is what is needed.

Investment in life as well as the sport will do everyone some good going forward.

Footballers will no doubt get caught out doing something daft from time to time but they cannot and must now allow themselves to get into a position which could ruin both their own and others lives.