When David Beckham decided to hop across the pond for one last run at greatness with AC Milan, no one batted an eyelash stateside.
Sure, that could very well be because 95 percent of the population was unaware of it, as "soccer" in the United States is still about as popular as female weightlifting. But, stemming from Beckham's move, a very interesting issue arises for those of us who follow, cherish, and bleed the sport.
Is it unethical for a player to have ties to two or even more teams?
Loans have been around forever. Hailed as a way to develop young players, or allow prospective buyers into a seemingly low-risk transaction, they're seen as the best compromise for two teams in need of a short-term solution regarding a certain player.
Beckham is no stranger to loans.
In fact, he enjoyed a spell at Preston North End early in his career. The move paid dividends for both clubs, and upon his return to Manchester United, his place in Sir Alex Ferguson's lineup was set in stone.
More than a decade later, his most recent move reeks of desperation for one last shot at glory, using the prestige of a club like AC Milan in order to slither his way back into the English national football team.
With this, he seems to be ultimately agreeing with the view that the MLS, the league that employs him full time and pays his salary, is a low-level operation where a player cannot be expected to shine brightly enough to be considered for a national team.
After all, doesn't "David Beckham, AC Milan" look a lot better than "David Beckham, LA Galaxy" on the sheet of national team players selected?
Meanwhile, another MLS standout took a loan spell to gain consideration for his national team.
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about 1 month ago
I don't get your argument,man. David Becham has earned calls into the England team while playing for the Galaxy. At the moment, the MLS is on break but England will still be playing while you guys are resting. This is why Beckham needs to be active in order to earn a call into the team. His loan move to Milan is no indictment to the MLS; remember Becham trained with Arsenal some seasons back just to remain fit? This move is just a stop-gap move to keep him match fit and ready for a call-up when the need arises.
The rule allowing for players to be loaned out, in my view, is a positive one. As you rightly pointed outed, loan deals could be very helpful for all parties involved. Even if it is used for "mercenary" reasons as you fear, it still helps all parties involved; remember football is a profession. If you don't mind caps and drafts in the game, you shouldn't have a problem with the rules on loaning. It appears that your call for change stems from your perception that the MLS will be seen as not good enough to employ a player who plays for the England team; this is unfortunate considering, as I've already stated, that Beckham has eraned calls while playing in the MLS. Remember he'll go back to LA when the season begins. For me, this is no big deal to warrant a rule change.
from about 1 month ago
I stated cases, like in Nery Castillo's behalf, where the excessive trading of player rights comes to be a detriment to the player and actually IMPAIRS him from playing. His is not the only case, I assure you. I disagree with you in that Beckham's move to Milan is not a detriment to MLS. Of course it is.
The argument for "he's keeping in shape, at least he's playing" isn't really a sound one when you consider that most major tournaments are played at a time where leagues cease to function. Beckham's a quality player here, there and everywhere. He can play for that national team because he's talented, that's it.
Beckham got calls to the English national team (whilst playing in MLS) under Steve McClaren. 'Nuff said.
from about 1 month ago
By "major tournaments" I suppose you mean the WC? But Beckham wont make the WC squad if doesn't play his part qualifying for it. Just this week, a whole host of PL stars withdrew from the seemingly unnecessary friendly with Germany. Lampard, Gerrard and both the Coles amongst them. Capello immediately said after the game that players that keep missing friendlies will NOT make the WC squad. An Unfit Beckham (due to the off-season across the pond) will never make it back into the English National set up, so yeah it is completely logical for him to seek out a loan move. Had it not been a prestegious club such as AC Milan, I doubt you would have reacted to it in such a way...
from about 1 month ago
And Euro, and Confederations, and Copa America, and Copa Oro, the Olympics. Basically every major tournament. I don't understand why he can't train with someone while he's in his off-season.
about 1 month ago
good on him I say, why wouldn't you go to Milan if you could for awhile?
from about 1 month ago
I know I would, but for a guy like Beckham - seems unnecessary.
about 1 month ago
THAT says somethin -
7 votes saying no - for fifa changin rules
from about 1 month ago
There are several layers to the argument, not just Beckham's case in particular. What do you think about guys like Nery Castillo being IMPAIRED from playing due to excessive loaning? What do you think about teams utilizing players for playoff runs and cup runs, giving them an unfair advantage when they deem it appropriate?
about 1 month ago
You're spot on with the loan argument, Eric but to be fair, The MLS Season is not the same as the rest of Europe and if he doesn't play, which he can't if LA Galaxy don't play then he won't get a chance to fight for his place in the England side and hence the move to Milan..
from about 1 month ago
Um, my point exactly. Playing with Galaxy is not the same as playing with Milan. That's exactly why he did it.
about 1 month ago
No it's not un-ethical for players to have a link with more than one team.
They are professional.
I think your suggestion is hugely flawed. Loan deals are of great importance for players of all ages.
For young players, it provides experience and a way for the parent club to hold onto a player of great potential while letting him play.
For older players, it provides matches when they could be rotting in the reserves.
The MLS season is over, why shouldn't Beckham move to another team?
I don't see your logic, especially in the cases you mentioned.
from about 1 month ago
It's not unethical, but sometimes it gets to be too much. I did say that loans benefit both clubs and players when done appropriately. But, back to Castillo's case (which no one has given me a solution for) why should he seek approval from both his parent club and the loaner club, that in turn, is loaning him out to a third club?
from about 1 month ago
Castillo.
1. He is not suited to European football, Shaktar signed him from Mexico for a massive fee.
(They own his registration)
2.He tried to join Betis, his agent was working overtime and he ended up at City.
(Shaktar own him but he's on loan to City)
3.He's not good enough for the Premiership. But the deal he signed is for a pre-determined length. Agreed upon by City and Shaktar.
City want him off the wage bill. Shaktar want someone to buy him.
4.No one wants to gamble on a player that has failed at two clubs, they won't pay the fee that Shaktar are demanding. City want him off the wage bill. So another loan deal is proposed.
5.Chivas must deal with City but have the deal rubber stamped by Shaktar.
6.For the deal to succeed it must be good for all the parties involved.
7.I don't see this as a scandal, rather it shows the good side of loan deals. And I don't know what you're looking for in the Castillo deal. Nothing is under handed. If anything, he (Castillo) wants his cake and to eat it. He got a big money move, and didn't see it through, now he wants to go home.
from about 1 month ago
1. Castillo never played in Mexico, Willie. He was in Olympiakos for six years. Prior to that, he played in Danubio's youth squad - in Uruguay.
2. The move to Betis or possible move to Betis only came up THIS summer. Not the one before. He's been at City since January. So he didn't "end up" in City wanting to go to Betis.
3. He played in a handful of games in the Premiership, and shattered his shoulder in only his second game in the league. How can you judge a player after a handful of appearances marred by injuries?
4. He didn't fail at Shakhtar, he was benched for taking a penalty that a fellow player wanted to take.
5. There is no deal with Chivas, it's off. In fact, they're eliminated so it would make no sense. This deal was supposed to go down a month ago.
6. Read 5
7. Why does it show the good side of loan deals? Loans are supposed to help teams keep players under contract while getting them playing time. Shakhtar and Castillo have failed to do either. Where's "home"? It's quite obvious you know nothing of the situation. He played in Greece for almost seven years. In fact, he only lived in Mexico from his birth to his 2nd birthday. His parents are from Uruguay!
from about 1 month ago
Exactly Will, exactly. I just don't get Eric's argument on Castillo. The guy is signed to Shakhtar and is on loan at City. By FIFA's laws, he can only be registered with three clubs but can only play for two clubs in a season; as an exception, he may be permitted to play for a third club if that club belongs to an association with an "overlapping" season. The fact that he's Mexican of Uruguayan parentage and played in Greece for whatever years is totally immaterial. If Shakhtar benched him because "he took a penalty he was not supposed to take", how does that make the loan regulations wrong? In fact that's the most ridiculous excuse one can ever make for a player's inability to make it in a team. I wonder if Eric has heard that Donovan has also gotten a loan deal at Bayern; how does he feel about it?
This article on loan regulations is just baseless.
from about 1 month ago
My whole grief with that part of loan deals and my referencing of Castillo has to do with the fact that LOANS ARE SUPPOSED TO ALLOW PLAYERS TO GET PLAYING TIME. And this is counter-productive in the case of several players, Castillo to name one. How is that baseless? Isn't that the entire point of loans? My responding to Willie on the point that Nery is Uruguayan and played in Greece is in reference to comments HE MADE regarding the player that were erroneous and completely off the point. In fact, stuff like this is driving this comment space completely off-topic!
from about 1 month ago
Yes, "loans are supposed to allow players get playing time" but if the players is still not good enough, or that he "took a penalty he wasn't supposed to take", it doesn't matter if he came on loan or not. If Shakhtar decided not to loan him out and just keep him sitting on the bench for as long as his contract lasts, are you going to call for a rule change forcing clubs to play all their players?
from about 1 month ago
...ok Eric, so I made a mistake about Shaktar signing Castillo from Olympiakos.
When City were negotiating his loan deal, Spanish clubs including Betis were also vying for his signature.
I never said the deal with Chivas was written in stone. As far I can make out I said the deal had to be good for all parties. Obviously it wasn't.
Bottom line is he is unwanted at both clubs, so take from that what you may. Generally if you've had two big deals in such a short time and neither have worked out, the finger is pointed at the player.
I have NO opinion on Castillo, he hasn't figured on my radar.
Home is where you are happiest.
That much I do know.
I still don't see your logic.
from about 1 month ago
What about Blanco's move to a team solely for a playoff run? What about circumventing rules and taking advantage of shady practices to sign players as mercenaries? FIFA rules permit this, for instance. I was responding to your Castillo comments because it is quite obvious I am better versed as to what has happened with this player and his attempts at playing being stifled by clubs (loaning him out, not trying to acquire him. There's been a minimum of two teams vying for his services in three months) and paperwork from federations that shouldn't even have anything to do with his transfer (like the FA).
Now take a look at this example of something that is legal by FIFA's standards regarding loans, today:
Team A is in the final two games of a season, a championship series for instance with two legs.
Team A reports three players as "injured".
Team A then acquires loans for Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi and Sergio Aguero.
Team A plays these two games with all three players.
Now, this is quite an extreme case. I know Man U, Barcelona and Atletico Madrid would never loan out these respective players, but this brings my case back to MLS. The MLS season is over, thus a bunch of players are now available - and in the case of Blanco, have been utilized by teams to circumvent FIFA rules and take advantage of the loan fallacy - er, policy.
We've addressed Beckham's case. Fine. It's settled, and I accept your point of view of him returning to Europe in order to find a spot in Capello's squad (in my opinion, Capello doesn't want him). We've addressed Castillo's case. It is quite obvious you know very little about what's going on with him, so don't bother. What about this example?
from 29 days ago
Hi. i know of a player who is on loan. The player went on loan for six months and has not made one start for that team (five months gone). Does anyone out there know of a case study in england where FA/FIFA have intervened to help the player to get out of a loan contract?
about 1 month ago
Personally i believe Beckham's move to Galaxy was for the money, an that cant be argued. Now for a player of his ability and skill, which is still very visible from his recent performances for England, a player of his nature is usually hungry for more competitive football.
Besides the point that he needs game time to be called up for England, which is there and i agree. David must be wanting to play a game where he can be challenged, in his career he played for two of the top teams in europe, well in the world.....Manchester and Madrid. So now that he got some time, while the MLS is taking a break, its the best opportunity for him to re-challenge himself, and also to play more competitive football.
Ultimately, Italy been one of the power houses of football, its a great opportunity and lets hope he has a good time there.
from about 1 month ago
Yeah, he's definitely having his cake and eating it too. I guess you could give him kudos for that. What's going to happen if he doesn't get playing time at Milan though? That midfield is stacked.
about 1 month ago
wheres the sense in this article?? what your saying is beckham is goin to milan so he can help milan win the uefa?? Trust me milan have much more skilled midfielders then beckham. Right now its winter in america and i dont think you can go out and play field soccer in the snow and your trying to say its wrong for him to go play competitive soccer in a competitve league. Beckham came for the money and for the lifestyle. He never stated that he loved L.A galaxy we all knew that from the board membersa to the fans he never came with a desire to honor the L.A galaxy shirt. But there are just as much to blame then he is, offering him all this money just to come as a circus act to boost soccer popularity in america. The same reason he is going to milan to boost sales and fill up stadiums, Im a die hard milan fan and after the loan is over i dont care what happens to beckham we know he will never be a kaka or a maldini to us. So galaxy fans should wake up and know that beckham will never be a idol to them as he was to manchester and just let him try to boost up his personal career
from about 1 month ago
1. It doesn't snow in Los Angeles.
2. I never said Beckham is going to Milan specifically to win the Champions League.
3. Of course he's not holding any desire to "honor" the LA Galaxy shirt. In my mind, his loan is an affront to the MLS.
4. "What's going to happen if he doesn't get playing time at Milan though? That midfield is stacked." One comment up, my opinion of Beckham in Milan.
5. Why do you think Galaxy fans believe Beckham will be an idol to Milan fans?
6. Italian people are touchy.
about 1 month ago
LOL..Eric. I'm sorry, I have to jump in. First of all..I don't think you really understand the game (both at club and international stages) and the condition of both leagues. Well..I think you don't really understand much more of the former.
Anyway..you have to understand first and foremost what kind of guy Capello is. He is not the type of coach that selects players on their reputation alone. He selects players on their ability, skills, and certainly their form and fitness..MATCH fitness there is. Just look at where Micheal Owen now. (I hope Owen will regain his old form sooner ;>). He is not like, for example, the USMNT coach, who selected Landon Donovan for the friendlies or the qualifiers even though he wasn't playing a single competitive matches because of the Galaxy's off-season.
In order to be in the squad, Beckham has to make himself AVAILABLE. And by that it means playing a competitive game or be in the first team regularly. Yes..maybe he won't be playing when he's there, but Ancellotti has said that Beckham will be put into the team, so he'll probably be on the bench constantly. But that is not a bad news for Beckham, because (as far as I understand) Beckham has already made himself available by then and Capello WILL consider him then even though he's on the bench, coz that means he's training with the first team everyday and will be playing IF he has the chance, even as a substitute or a starter for 45 minutes. I hope you understand of what I'm trying to say. English is not my first language anyway.
And it doesn't matter whether it is AC Milan or LA Galaxy. The main point is PLAYING or BE IN THE FIRST TEAM REGULARLY. And whether this move by Becks has shown that MLS is a lower standard league is not the point at all, as NOT ONLY Steve McLaren has re-selected him while playing in the league, CAPELLO himself has constantly selected Beckham in 7 out of 9 matches that he has coached so far (he even made him as a captain at one point). And all that time Beckham has been PLAYING FOR GALAXY. And both of the two matches that Becks hasn't been selected was because he was considered as lacking of match-fitness for NOT PLAYING any competitive matches at all, with Galaxy or with any team.
And you've said that Beckham can just go on TRAINING to keep fit and be selected for England. Let me remind you that the first match he hasn't been selected because of lacking the match fitness, he was TRAINING WITH ARSENAL the whole time for a month. And why wouldn't anybody saying anything about Beckham made MLS look as the lowest standard of league then? Arsenal is obviously one of the biggest names/clubs in the world, but Capello still shut his eyes.
Capello DOESN'T CARE where he is playing, as long as he is playing, for him to be selected. Capello certainly DOESN'T LOOK AT THE NAME, whether it is AC Milan or not, as he himself has praised the standard of MLS as a competitive league (I think based on the opinion of his assistant and the games/videos that he has watched as he has never been to any of the Galaxy games yet) like any other league too (but maybe still need some improvement). The most important thing is that, Capello KNOWS ALREADY what Beckham is as a player, and what he can do, and when he is in match-fitness, he can bring so much to the team including his big influence and confidence.
So you accusing Becks of caring more about the names than the league/club he's in now is (totally) wrong. It is simply because the other leagues AVAILABLE DURING THE INTERNATIONAL DATES and where he has connections, are in Europe. And don't even suggest Asia, you'll just make yourself look more ignorance.
Sorry for this long reply. If anything, this article should be about.. "MLS SHOULD CHANGE ITS SCHEDULE TO ACCOMODATE THE INTERNATIONAL DATES AND PREVENT HARDSHIPS FOR THE INTERNATIONAL/NATIONAL TEAMS' PLAYERS, IN ORDER TO ATTRACT MORE OUTSTANDING INTERNATIONAL/NATIONAL TEAMS' PLAYERS AND IMPROVE THE (STANDARD OF THE) LEAGUE ITSELF".. (I know..that is quite long for a title ;p) coz I'm sure more coaches will follow in Capello's footsteps if he continues with the success he had so far. Hope that things is clearer to you. Cheers! (^_^)
from about 1 month ago
"First of all..I don't think you really understand the game (both at club and international stages) and the condition of both leagues."
I respect your opinion, sir - but you are completely wrong. Just because I choose to cover the MLS does not automatically mean I do not "understand the game". I know you never said this, but this what you inferred. However, you are completely wrong about me failing to understand "the condition of both leagues". Jeez, I wonder - what league has the most prestige and higher level of play? The American league, or the Italian? Let me get a team of 100 scientists and world leaders to debate this, run experiments - and I'll get back to you in five years. Okay?
"Anyway..you have to understand first and foremost what kind of guy Capello is. He is not the type of coach that selects players on their reputation alone. He selects players on their ability, skills, and certainly their form and fitness..MATCH fitness there is."
I am, by no means, Fabio Capello's biographer, but I know the kind of manager he is. I know how he operates, and I know this much: He's not that interested in Beckham to begin with (to include in his squad).
"Capello DOESN'T CARE where he is playing, as long as he is playing, for him to be selected."
I respectfully disagree. I do believe that the level of competition around a player can affect his own performance and the way he is perceived by others.
"MLS SHOULD CHANGE ITS SCHEDULE TO ACCOMODATE THE INTERNATIONAL DATES AND PREVENT HARDSHIPS FOR THE INTERNATIONAL/NATIONAL TEAMS' PLAYERS, IN ORDER TO ATTRACT MORE OUTSTANDING INTERNATIONAL/NATIONAL TEAMS' PLAYERS AND IMPROVE THE (STANDARD OF THE) LEAGUE ITSELF"..
MLS definitely has some shortcomings as a league - and that's definitely one of them. I agree with you.
"Hope that things is clearer to you. Cheers! (^_^) "
I hope my sarcastic reply is adequate for your condescending comment. Thank you.
about 1 month ago
You've got this completely wrong Eric. The American season is over. In order to stay fit he's gone to Milan to train with them. Capello himself has said that he won't pick players who are unfit (a la Owen).
from about 1 month ago
Oh my God. I should write a disclaimer on the top of this article: "This article is not about David Beckham. I only utilize his case to talk about the disparity of certain loan regulations, among other cases/scenarios/opinions."
from about 1 month ago
Sorry to invoke such frustration from you but, well, it was a poorly chosen case that severely discredited your own article.
from about 1 month ago
I believe it was not. Thank you for sharing your opinion though, I do respect it.
about 1 month ago
eric ur a dumazz
end of discussion
from about 1 month ago
You're the one who said a bunch of stuff that wasn't even in the article. It's like you made up a bunch of stuff based on the fact that you obviously can't even understand the English language properly. Maybe next time I'll include a little sidebar in Italian detailing all of my main points to suit you.
See, if you can't even spell "dumbass", that's probably a good sign that you are one.
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