as most have said, I think family comes first over football. -its just gutting for us. Like a couple of people have mentioned, the repercussions of the club saying "no" could have caused even more problems for us later down the line. but like Spurm says... surely long term it means there's less chance of us losing Bale? I wouldn't have thought he'd be in any rush to move to a different country any time soon, which means there's only a couple of clubs in the prem who could come after him due to the enormous price tag he's bound to have attached to him, just like Modric..
I agree family should always come first, believe me on that. Yet I still can't help but feel aggrieved, someone going into labour doesn't necessarily mean the baby will drop instantly and in this case it didn't as the baby was born on Sunday (not that that could have been predicted though granted). I just feel in the profession he's in, he has to make certain sacrifices to warrant such an enormous pay and his partner going into labour is, in my opinion, just under the threshold of having to miss a match, especially one as important as Chelsea in the league. Although HBC made a joke of it, I actually see no reason why footballers can't have stipulations ruling them to not or try not to to conceive a baby at which the birth date falls into a football season (perhaps there are that we just don't know about?). Sounds pretty extreme (if stupid) I know but the money these guys are on, they have to appreciate that they're in a profession where thousands and thousands of people rely on them and the fact they take home in a week what many wouldn't get in 4 or 5 years, they're under a lot of scrutiny. If I'm not mistaken, many boxers are told by their trainers to not have sex a few weeks/ month before their fight to ensure their testosterone levels are high (my cousin has and he's only semi pro!!!)... Surely that's worse than just sticking a rubber on for a few months!? I'm probably making more of it than what I should be... I'm just trying find excuses for our loss on Saturday rather than admit we were outplayed As I said in my original post though, congratulations to the Bale family
I was going to post a similar article as I did feel disappointed that Bale couldn't stay and Football isn't just a "job", it is a life changing career for players at this level, a career which is one of the best iin the world when you consider everything that goes with being a leading premier league player. London, Oct. 21 (ANI): Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi will be missing the birth of his first child to play against Celtic. Messi's girlfriend Antonella Rocuzzo is expected to deliver their son in the next 72 hours. The worlds leading footballer is going to miss the birth of his child, does that make him a bad father or husband?, I admire Messi for being strong enough to make such a decision.
So, so true Boss. That part on Messi shows he's such a dedicated individual to his job, hats off to him as well.
But to a heck of a lot of footballers, football is "just a job". I know of professional players who will not watch games on television because they see it as an intrusion in their time away from work. There are also players who will not read the back pages of newspapers because it is about their 'job'. What Mr and Mrs Messi have chosen to do has no bearing on what Mr and Mrs Bale should do. It is a choice they have made and it is their right to go through with that decision. I think Bale was correct to do what he did and I think the club were quite right to support his decision.
I am surprised no-one on this thread has not posted the Bill Shankly quote that "football is more important than life and death".
OS, on this topic, I understand there will be different takes, and in no way am I angry at Bale, its more of a slight disappointment as while Bale is one of my favourite players, he strikes me as someone that is a bit delicate, not just in his build, but also his manner ,and If Bale was a stronger person then he could have played against chelsea and still been at the birth of his child.
I also understand there will be different takes on this. After all said and done, I know a few mothers who say that when their husbands were present at the birth, they were nothing but a bloody nuisance and were no comfort whatsoever !! You say Bale could have played against Chelsea and still been at the birth. Yes he could because as we now know, the girl was born yesterday. But surely the point is that on Saturday morning he didn't know that and as he was in London and she was in Cardiff, he would have felt time was of the essence hence his immediate departure from the ground.
Only skim read the thread but I can't believe people feel that way. I don't see what his pay or anyone else's attitude toward child birth has to do with it, he had every right to chose to go. It's unfortunate for the fans but I can guaruntee Bale won't give a toss about that game compared to being there for his wife/girlfriend and you have to respect that.
course, i know why he left, just if he was more strong minded as it turned out he could have played agaisnt chelsea and still been at the birth of his child. Anyhow, . I expect a hatrick agaisnt the saints and the "rocking the baby" celebration [video=youtube;2bPSkzyF_es]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2bPSkzyF_es[/video]
We could tell Bale didn't care about the game I do respect his decision though YV (whether I agree with it or not) and I hope everything went well for him, his partner and the baby.
Did Trevor Francis write this thread? The words of Martin Allen: "I was sharing a room with our goalkeeper David Seaman. At two o'clock in the morning, David took a phone call from my dad saying that my wife Gabriella was about to give birth. "I found out there was a flight back to London at 7.30am and I told our Assistant Manager Peter Shreeves. He said 'Before you leave, check that she's still in labour. And if you are going to go, then get on the plane and good luck. But check first.' "I rang from the hotel at 6.00am and Gabriella was settling in at the Royal Berks Hospital. So I got the plane from Newcastle Airport and arrived at Heathrow about 8.30am. From there, I was in the hospital at 9.30am and our baby George was born at 12.15pm. "I'll never forget the following Monday. I was just leaving for home after training when QPR Manager Trevor Francis handed me an envelope while I was getting in my car. I thought it was going to be a note of congratulations for having the baby. But it was a two week wages fine! "It was quite shocking and disappointing. After that, my working relationship with Trevor broke down. I was eventually sold to West Ham a few months later. "But I have no regrets about what happened. It was only human that I wanted to see the birth of my first child. Everyone has the right if they wish to do that - whether you are a footballer or whether you are a banker or a politician. It doesn't matter what you work as. You have that right. As if fining him two weeks wages wasn't bad enough, selling him to West Ham was just adding insult to injury.
I read that bit on Allen earlier PNP, from seeing his child born to then be sold to West Ham down the line... Talk about highs and lows! .
Hee heee heee! Anyway to cap it all off I hope he doesn't name his little girl Chelsea,I'll THROTTLE him if he does and land District Line one.
totally agree with you SoS and when i found out i did have a bloody good moan about it and curse her for not waiting!
OK, OK. I'm an old fashioned parent and I should get with the times... Family comes first. Would ya'll be happy if Bale took his 13 week Parental Leave starting next week? It's only his job. The law is on his side. Family comes first. *chucks that grenade in and stands back to watch*
Fortunately for us even in these enlightened times he only has the right to two weeks. I'd actually be disappointed if he took that - he can easily fit bonding with his child and helping his girlfriend round his job, this wasn't true for the birth.
Inda is right, they've changed the law (or are changing it) so that "Maternity" leave can be shared 13 weeks each for the 2 parents. See you in Feb Gareth
