How corporate greed greases the wheels of football

Being a regular football match-goer, I often pass those prawn-sandwich-munching corporate folk before and after the game.

You know, the I-get-free-tickets-because-my-company-sponsors-the-club brigade (IGFTBMCSTC) who turn up in suits, wear sunglasses in the winter and think nothing of paying £2 for a cup of tea and £4.50 for a hotdog.

But where they disappear to during the 90 minutes of football is a mystery to many fans and so is what they do to justify their mega salaries of £100,000-a-year plus.

The fact is, football is no longer the working class mans game it once was.

While thirty years ago a match costed the equivalent of a portion of chips. today it costs the same as a fresh lobster dish with a bottle of neat wine.

And as the game takes a more corporate route, young local fans are being priced out of following in their fathers and grandfathers footsteps.

This is highlighted each time a major tournament comes around.

Whether it be World Cup, Champions League or the Uefa Cup, ticket allocations will always favour the 'IGFTBMCSTC club' over loyal local fans.

Today the chief executive of the World Cup 2010 organising committe (and no doubt a member of the IGFTBMCSTC brigade) gave a meaningful tour around Johannesburg to Jessica Alba.

No doubt he wined and dined the sex symbol on expenses before inviting her into the IGFT.... brigade, offering her free tickets to any games she wanted.

I'm no expert but I'm sure South Africa has plenty of people who deserve that tour more than the Hollywood hottie who has no direct connections with football nor South Africa and is married to some bloke called Cash (if you don't believe me).

I guess it just about sums up the attitude of the I-get-free-tickets-because-my-company-sponsors-the-club brigade and the people in charge of football.

Forget the game itself - it's all about appearances and money.