GFTU BGCM 2019 Minutes

Coupled with that, I often have discussions at these gatherings or at the Union

Building Conference, because that is where we get a chance to engage, asking

about footballers and politics. Where do footballers stand politically? Many of

them are working class, many of them are from overseas, some of them are

refugees and their lives can be transformed literally within six months of

progressing into a Premiership first team. Where do they stand politically? It is

very, very difficult to say and it may be something that we, as a union, need to

do a little bit more work on to establish. What I do know is that where certain

social issues are concerned, and let’s face it, when does something that is a

social issue that you have a social conscience about then tip over into a

mainstream political vital situation? I don’t know. Only the individual can say

that.

However, when you consider people like Vincent Kompany, who has just

created history by lifting the FA Cup to complete a historic and unique treble.

Vincent Kompany has pledged his testimonial money, which will be substantial,

to the homeless campaign in Manchester. He is working with Andy Burnham to

that effect. Somebody like Juan Mata who is one of those foreigners, one of

those overseas foreigners that years ago people said are “invading” the game,

probably one of the most intelligent, highly conscious, politically aware human

beings that you will ever meet and he has been pushing for a 1% salary

sacrifice by all players over a certain salary to be put to good causes.

I may not be able to mobilise players to go out and support, say, the fast food

campaign, because I do not know where they are at, there may be individuals,

but we forget that these people do not work in isolation. They have friends, they

have families who are not footballers earning in some cases phenomenal

amounts of money; in many, many other cases, by the way, substantially less.

Many of their friends who they are involved with who have maybe started

football careers are all going to have to transition. If you can touch on

something, I think they are more likely to get involved in a campaign, such as

(and I will expand on that in my address) the resurgence of racism. My

colleagues within the education and equality departments were absolutely

outraged and it started with a conversation. This is where that kind of initiative

215