Do football (soccer) players get paid too much?

[Deleted]

Just wondering what everyone thinks, personally I thinking kicking a ball around isn't worth £250k ($386k) a week.

[Deleted]

Yeah, many people get too much paid for what they do imo.

[Altrec]

Your poll question and topic question seem to require different answers. I'm curious how that might effect the outcome.

[Mellomania]

Your poll question and topic question seem to require different answers. I'm curious how that might effect the outcome.

This, i voted yes based on reading the thread title. Didn't read the poll question Q_Q
I think they are paid way too much.

[Deleted]

This, i voted yes based on reading the thread title. Didn't read the poll question Q_Q
I think they are paid way too much.

I was close to doing the same mistake but then saw that it was different.

[klogaroth]

They get paid based on the amount of income that they can generate, as long as they have a decent agent and aren't somehow being screwed over for other reasons.

The reason the teams that they play for can afford to pay them that much is because of the vast revenues made from people paying to watch or sponsor those teams.

If we're going to collectively put that much money into sports teams then I'd rather the players see a decent chunk of that.

[-aiko-]

I think all professional athletes are overpaid.

The problem is this money is made in the field so it either goes to the players or it goes to the guys in the suits.

[kritisk]

Topic and poll are confusing as you've done it so you'll get inaccurate results.

[Altrec]

This, i voted yes based on reading the thread title. Didn't read the poll question Q_Q
I think they are paid way too much.

I almost did the same thing but caught it just before I clicked vote.

[Independent voter]

Entertainers get paid a lot.

[Tradewind]

psssst, poll is fucked on purpose.

[Longview]

They get paid based on the amount of income that they can generate, as long as they have a decent agent and aren't somehow being screwed over for other reasons.

The reason the teams that they play for can afford to pay them that much is because of the vast revenues made from people paying to watch or sponsor those teams.

this. you get paid what you're worth

same reason why judge judy rakes in $47 million for 52 days of work/year

personally i do not care about football and i don't think earning several million dollars a year is justified, regardless of profession

[-aiko-]

Bahahaha. Just noticed the title of the poll. You sneaky bastard.

[Fabio]

Its a free market so they get paid exactly as much as they are worth.

Im sure the clubs would pay them less if they could.

[klogaroth]

I also wonder how long this has been a debate.

Were there people in Rome asking if Gaius Appuleius Diocles was paid too much?

[Xenryusho]

No. Out of all the people in the world who want to do this only the absolute best and most drive get to play on this level. Why would it make sense for a player to slaver away to the point that they can call themselves to be in the top .01% of players, generate the sport millions in revenue, and not be paid proportionately to that?

[Hraklea]

Sorry for the stupid question, but... how those soccer teams make money to be worth to pay these wages to their players? Is it all from tournament prizes and entrance tickets?

[Korgoth]

They do not get paid too much, as they were able to negotiate that salary, and are not breaking any laws. If you are making your money legally, you are not getting paid too much.

They deserve to get paid that much because A. Their level of talent is scarce, B. The number of years they can do this is limited, C. Their health is at risk, D. The fame they gain by doing it makes them a target, forcing them to require a high level of income to live in peace.

[Revi]

Short answer: No.

Long answer:
The athletes are the backbone of the industry which generates their paychecks - without them, it wouldn't exist, and they're paid "proportionally".
Compare it to regular workers who are the driving force of both the generation of profits for companies and the market itself that companies profit from, who are paid disproportionately low salaries compared to the value of their labor.

I think in many ways the pay for athletes are (in relative terms) more fair than the salary for many workers in the world. Remember that the vast, VAST majority of athletes only make a regular living wage, if that. Their wage increases massively when they reach the world elite because that's how the income is distributed in the industry.

[-aiko-]

Sorry for the stupid question, but... how those soccer teams make money to be worth to pay these wages to their players? Is it all from tournament prizes and entrance tickets?

As well as merchandise, television events, etc.