Footballers are Role Models

Of all the arguments defending John Terry surely the most fallacious is that footballers are not role models.

The argument goes that footballers, with their astonishing wages, questionable on- and off-field behaviour have lost the mantle of role model. That because they are not good enough to be role models, they aren’t.

Because of this they are free to conduct themsleves however they like off the field without recourse; as long as they perform on the pitch and behave there, or at least no worse than the majority (how many times have we ignored diving by Rooney or Gerrard?).

role model
–noun
a person whose behaviour, example, or success is or can be emulated by others, esp. by younger people.

Role models are not chosen.

They aren’t voted in or decided upon by committee.  They are people who are imitated for better or worse.  That is why we have good role models and bad role models.  Footballers are in such a position of saturated exposure that however they conduct themselves, they will be copied.  The two-footed tackle one week becomes the rash of two-footed tackes the next – it’s not just children who copy the most visible examples they are given.

Footballers are of course, more than just sportsmen.  Their lifestyles are publicised, scrutinised and capitalised on and how they behave becomes an acceptable template for how any of us can behave.  The only way we can write off the poor behaviour of a footballer is to say that they are somehow lesser human beings, incapable of self-restraint or self-censorship; people who normal, well-adjusted persons can dismiss.  Such an opinion (which may indeed be true, due to their cloistered upbringings) is of course, vastly at odds with the quality of life afforded them.

No matter how unpalatable it is, footballers are role models, good and bad.  We can’t dethrone them just because they become bad role models or compartmentalise saying “copy this behaviour but not that”.  We can only mitigate such effects by showing people that being a poor role model does not go unpunished and without comment.  That the biggest responsibilities and rewards go only to those who merit the position as a footballer and a person – both of which are appropriate to be copied.

Should John Terry face no punishment for his actions, denying that footballers are role models will not stop the impressionable from concluding that adultery with your friend’s girlfriend is acceptable.

The FA have refused to accept this.  John Terry has refused to accept this.  Now, the only person who can uphold the concept of the good role model is an Italian who cares only about winning.

No matter what he decides and for whatever reason, footballers will still be role models afterwards.

Tagged as: Chelsea, England, John Terry