Just How Private Should a Footballers Private Life Be?

By: Rob | January 30th, 2010

John Terry. He’s going to be on the front AND back pages of the british newspapers tomorrow. The front pages because he lost a superinjunction in court meaning newspapers can go ahead and report his alleged affair with Wayne Bridge’s ex-girlfriend. He has declined to comment on the hearsay, saying it was all deeply personal, wants people to respect his privacy, etc etc.

It strikes me that footballers want it both ways – the perks of celbritydom (the money, fast cars, the fast women, the stupid haircuts) but none of the responsibility that might come with that. Although quite who is interested in what the hell he gets up to in his private life is another matter.

Or is it? As Chelsea (and England) Captain, does he have a responsibility to act like a reasonable member of society?

Either way, Terry will be happier looking at the back pages, where he’ll be for scoring the winning goal for Chelsea against Burnley, further stretching their title credentials.

They way I see it, a footballer doesn’t have the responsibity to not act like a young moneyed idiot if he chooses that lifestyle. I don’t really buy the fact that they all should be absolute saints off the field, just because some kiddywinks might think he’s awesome. What’re they going to do? Think it’s okay to cheat on their kindergarten girlfriends because John Terry made it okay?

It does strike me though if you are in a position of celebrity, and do receive a certain number of perks with that celebrity, it’s only right that you stand up and go “You know what? I was an idiot” when people gasp at the fact you’ve been stupid. The going to court to do the whole stopping the press reporting on you thing seems a bit…well ridiculous.

As for whether they should be any on-the-field reprimand for Terry for not being very captainly for Club or Country, well I’m not so sure – it didn’t much effect his game today, certainly. But I’m sure there will be a section of the England support who will cry out that Bobby Moore Wouldn’t Have Done This.

One final thought: No wonder John Terry had to think long and hard about joining Manchester City in the summer. Who does Wayne Bridge play for again? Ah yes.

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Category: English Premier League

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hunterjinx

I have to agree with Rob and mattsmash. What these guys are doing off the pitch is largely irrelevant. Come June, this will have no effect on the Three Lions.
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Dhaw

Capello is going to make him his bitch for a while.
mattsmash

I really couldn't give 2 hoots what Terry gets up to off the field, it's not like he's lynching black people or killing children. A lot of people have affairs, it's not nice but it does happen.

He's just a bloke who happens to be very good at football.
Marco P.

Bad mojo for England. This is *exactly* the kind of thing Capello did NOT want: media attention around the team for all the wrong reasons. Nothing worse than your captain being involved in a scandal to take away your concentration.

I'd be surprised if Capello decides to drop Terry from the Three Lions altogether (as some tabloids are speculating), but he sure as hell gonna give him the verbal beating of a lifetime.