Fancy a career in professional football? Tempting isn’t it? You get paid to do the thing you’ve always loved, get paid incredibly well, enjoy fame and access to the greatest footballing facilities around.
But there are downsides too and one is the fact there are a number of things you simply cannot do!
Let’s take a look at 4 things professional footballer in England cannot do.
1. They cannot bet on football
Betting on football anywhere in the world in any competition is completely banned. They can go to a casino, play online slots, bet on other sports and things like horse racing (moderately) but under not circumstances can they bet on football. Equally, they must not share inside information with others who are betting on football.
2. They can’t have Christmas Day off!
So in the majority of cases in the English game, Boxing Day fixtures are a really big deal and most clubs hold training sessions on Christmas Day to prepare for them!
Say goodbye to Christmas Day in front of the TV with a buck’s fizz!
3. They cannot take certain medications
There’s a hefty list of substances that footballers cannot take. But some of those substances can be found in every day medications like cold and flu remedies. So footballers have to check every medication they take and if something essential to their health contains a specifically banned substances, they have to get a special exemption before taking it.
4. Certain Extreme Sports
Most professional footballers have clauses in their contracts preventing them from taking part in extreme sports (things like skiing, for example). This would also include motorsports like quad biking and so forth in many cases.
Of course, it stands to reason. Extreme sports increase the likelihood of injury and clubs need to protect their (often expensive) players.
In some cases it has also been reported that professional footballers can’t even play football outside of their club commitments. I suppose it stands to reason. Imagine your £100 million signing getting injured played 5 a side with his mates on a Wednesday night?!
Worth it?
I’ve got to be honest. I feel like these restrictions are a pretty small price to pay for the lifestyles professional footballers enjoy. What do you think?!
