GMB viewers say footballers make better role models than politicians

Good Morning Britain viewers have claimed that footballers are better role models than politicians, who can’t ‘even begin to understand what the British people go through’. 

Broadcaster Mike Parry, from Surrey, said it’s ‘easy’ for footballers to be noble while earning millions of pounds, and believes that young players tipped for the England squad from a young age grew up in a ‘bubble’. 

Sports journalist Anita Abayomi, from south London, said former talkRadio presenter Mike should give young footballers a ‘little more credit’, and claimed that the original rejection of Marcus Rashford’s school meals initiative shows that there’s a problem ‘within the cabinet’. 

Viewers disagreed with Mike, with several arguing that government ministers often ‘come from the same schools’ and can struggle to comprehend the challenges faced by the British public. 

Broadcaster Mike Parry appeared with sports journalist Anita Abayomi (bottom left), from south London, to debate whether footballers are better role models than politicians

Broadcaster Mike Parry, from Surrey, said it's 'easy' for footballers to be nobel while earning millions of pounds during a debate on Good Morning Britain today

Broadcaster Mike Parry, from Surrey, said it’s ‘easy’ for footballers to be nobel while earning millions of pounds during a debate on Good Morning Britain today

‘They earn an enormous amount of money and they deserve every penny because they’re special and they have a great talent, but they are in a bubble from about the age of 14,’ said Mike. 

Host Susanna Reid interjected to argue that claiming football players are in a ‘protected bubble’ is a ‘complete misdescription’. 

The broadcaster went on: ‘It’s not believe me, if you’re spotted as a potential England footballer from the age of 13 or 14 believe me you have a lavish lifestyle, I’m not decrying it. 

‘What I’m saying is, there are loads of problems in this country, school meals is a very emotional one, but we don’t have enough lorry drivers in this country…it’s a big national issue, but it’s not popular.’ 

Marcus Rashford is pictured during the Italy v England Euros final at Wembley Stadium on Sunday

Marcus Rashford is pictured during the Italy v England Euros final at Wembley Stadium on Sunday 

But several viewers disagreed with Mike, with a Twitter poll from the show revealing that 85 per cent felt footballers are better role models than politicians. 

One viewer wrote: ‘It’s about time that politicians were more like everybody else. How can people who’ve never had any struggles in life, even begin to understand what the British people go through?’ 

Another said: ‘Of course they are. When it takes a footballer to care about children who go hungry, you have to sit up and ask yourself, who is looking out for us? At the moment it certainly isn’t the ministers.’

‘How can you talk about footballers in a bubble compared to politicians! They mostly come from the same schools, the best footballers played on a piece of tarmac on their street!’ agreed a third.  

Anita argued that footballers such as Marcus Rashford, Raheem Sterling and Jordan Henderson have done incredible work within their communities with their high salaries. 

Viewers disagreed with Mike, with several arguing that government ministers often 'come from the same schools' and can struggle to comprehend the challenges faced by the British public

Viewers disagreed with Mike, with several arguing that government ministers often ‘come from the same schools’ and can struggle to comprehend the challenges faced by the British public

‘We see them doing so much for their society and community and we can’t help but call them as role models,’ she said. ‘We aren’t just looking a the political side, we’re also looking at society and what they are doing for their community.  

She later added: ‘Saying they make millions and probably don’t walk a mile in our shoes, that is actually very incorrect. 

‘We look at some of these footballers, like Raheem Sterling, like Kalvin Philips, all these boys who went to play in the Euros for us, they have come from less privileged backgrounds. They have walked a mile in our shoes and know what it’s like not to have food in their belly.’  

Mike said he is ‘full of admiration’ for young footballers and the work they do within their communities, but feels it should be elected politicians who are running the country. 

Anita argued that footballers such as Marcus Rashford, Raheem Sterling and Jordan Henderson have done incredible work within their communities with their high salaries

Anita argued that footballers such as Marcus Rashford, Raheem Sterling and Jordan Henderson have done incredible work within their communities with their high salaries

Mike said he is 'full of admiration' for young footballers and the work they do within their communities, but feels it should be elected politicians who are running the country

Mike said he is ‘full of admiration’ for young footballers and the work they do within their communities, but feels it should be elected politicians who are running the country

‘Marcus Rashford, of course has stimulated the interest in school meals, he got it going, but he got politicians to change their mind. I want the people who run the country to be elected by the voters’, he said. 

‘I don’t want young footballers running the country and that is not a criticism of them. I am hugely full of admiration for them. The modern young footballers have a more woke attitude to life than any young footballers have ever had. 

‘But they earn £200,000 a week and it’s very easy to be noblesse oblige to the rest of the population when you’re earning millions of millions of pounds.

‘It won’t cost you, but it may cost the country if politicians who are elected suddenly cave in and decide to change the way the country is run because a young footballer has a stage to say things. I don’t think that’s the way the country should be run.’

England star Kalvin Phillips is branded ‘man of the tournament’ for wearing a white ribbon throughout Euro 2020 to encourage men not to stay silent about domestic violence

England star Kalvin Phillips has been branded ‘the man of the tournament’ for wearing a White Ribbon to encourage men not to stay silent about domestic violence against women

The Leeds United midfielder, 25, who helped Gareth Southgate’s squad get to the final of Euro 2020, sported the charity ribbon while doing press throughout the tournament. 

The term #domesticviolence trended on Twitter following Sunday’s final, as charities shared research about how physical abuse against partners or family members has been found to soar by around 38 per cent when England lose a match. 

‘Whatever the score Kalvin Phillips is our man of the tournament. 

‘Men – you can all play your part in ending violence against women – wear a White Ribbon and make the White Ribbon Promise to never commit, excuse or remain silent about men’s violence against women,’ White Ribbon UK tweeted ahead of the match on Sunday.

Since then, hundreds have shared their support for the player, with many praising his actions on an off the pitch. 

England star Kalvin Phillips has been branded 'the man of the tournament' for wearing a White Ribbon to encourage men not to stay silent about domestic violence against women

England star Kalvin Phillips has been branded ‘the man of the tournament’ for wearing a White Ribbon to encourage men not to stay silent about domestic violence against women 

England star Kalvin Phillips has been branded 'the man of the tournament' for wearing a White Ribbon to symbolise how men shouldn't stay silent on acts of domestic violence.

England star Kalvin Phillips has been branded ‘the man of the tournament’ for wearing a White Ribbon to symbolise how men shouldn’t stay silent on acts of domestic violence.

Journalist James O’brein shared the tweet, writing: ‘Wearing a White Ribbon, as Kalvin Phillip does here, means making the White Ribbon Promise to never commit, excuse or remain silent about men’s violence against women. 

‘This team never ceases to inspire & educate.’

Thousands of others went on to share their praise for the player, branding him a ‘hero’ and ‘credit to the country’. 

‘I love our English football team. Not just because they got us to the final but because they are a thoroughly good and decent set of lads,’ said one.

‘Oh this is great. Thank you,’ added another.

‘What a credit to his family and the country,’ commented a third.    

‘Does this England team get any better? I think I like football again,’ said another.

‘My respect for this amazing guy knows no bound,’ one fan added.