Whatever happened to Jean-Marc Bosman ? Iâm sure at some point during this article youâve asked yourselves âWhatever happened to Jean-Marc Bosman?â, I did too whilst writing this found out what became of him. The man who made footballers into millionaireâs is actually the complete opposite, as he lives his rather unfortunate if noy depressing life as he lives off benefits, anti depressents and has battled alcoholism. The man who battled to change football, now battles to just stay sober. Bosman is still doing his best to earn a decent living, and has recently spoke about how Sepp Blatterâs attempts to change the game will undermine his court victory: âI have my place in history and I had a long fight to achieve what I did. âI donât want everything I did in my life to be for nothing. Iâm happy for footballers earning a lot of money. Iâm not jealous. I gave my career so European players wouldnât work like slaves. âI just want to be recognised. People know thereâs a âBosman rulingâ but they donât realise thereâs a guy who has given everything, who became an alcoholic.â Well there you have it, if you ever wondered why it was called âDoing a Bosmanâ, you now know. Do you feel it has had a negative impact on football, or as Bosman suggests, his victory in court was a victory for football ? What goes around comes around.
Bosman came to the end of his contract but his team wouldn't let him go and play for another team. By the laws of that time, they were allowed to do that. That for me is a form of slavery. Bosman bravely fought this and won. It is very sad that his fight for labour freedom, equality and justice should cost him so dear. I sincerely hope for him that what goes around, comes around but it hasn't happened yet.
It's lifes set of scales imho. Things will be too far in favour of thing or another for a period, there's push back and then the scales tilt the other way, and generally go too far in that direction. Years ago, clubs and directors treated players as virtual slaves - it was wrong. Now, players can do what they want and treat clubs as cash machines - this is wrong. We need some action to rectify the balance in the game.
Unfortunately, as with most things in life, there is very rarely a happy balance. Events tend to lurch from one extreme to the other and this is the case with Bosman. His ideal was good but the outcome has indeed as the OP suggests ruined European football. It decreed that the rich powerful clubs got richer and more powerful and they now dominate the game to such an extent, that many, many fans have lost touch and interest in the game. I would add one small caveat to all this though. To suggest footballers have ever been 'slaves' is preposterous. They must have been some of the best paid, most pampered and adored 'slaves' to have ever lived. Even back in the 50's and 60's, before the min wage, they were still well paid. Footballers pre Bosman too enjoyed some of the finest cars, homes and luxurious lifestyles compared to the ordinary working man (who in many cases really are slaves with mortgages, debts and struggling lifestyles in poor to average paid employ) and to suggest that they were oppressed or endured hardships is an insult to those unfortunate individuals who were actually enslaved. Footballers in 2011 enjoy the kind of wealth only pools winners or lottery winners can match today. Even average players are millionaires. If Bosman has indeed fallen on such hard times, perhaps those who have benefited most should dig deep and bail the man who made them 'considerably richer than you' over the past 20 years.
I dont think Bosman can be blamed. In any job when your contract runs out why shouldnt you be allowed to move to a new employer!! For me the people ruining football are two groups. Firstly the clubs for paying these obscene amounts to players, and secondly although it pains me to say it, us fans for paying the overinflated prices to go to games, buy shirts, subscribe to Sky etc. I am becoming more disillusioned with football by the week but somehow cant give it all up!
