FIFA President says USA has to end pay-to-play system

[Anonymous]

Everyone knows that excess money in soccer should be used to bribe FIFA officials

[Anonymous]

"“One of the things which shocked me here in America is that children have to pay in order to play. We have to stop this. I’m Italian, I grew up in a little Swiss Village in the middle of the mountains. There was a soccer team there, which played in the sixth highest division, so, it was very small and they had 23 teams.”


“And this is all organized and privately funded. So, the local guy who has a restaurant gives the jerseys. The lawyer who has a little bit more money spends on shoes. Privately you create this, movement that makes sure that every kid, plays.”

So what about the other kids who want to play? Europe is great about supporting the best, but miss that cutoff and you're out of luck

[Anonymous]

How predictable. Parents who have literally bought into the system and drunk the Gatorade think it’s silly to get rid of pay to play so better players (than their kids) can be developed.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:How predictable. Parents who have literally bought into the system and drunk the Gatorade think it’s silly to get rid of pay to play so better players (than their kids) can be developed.

Do you think that kids who enjoy playing and are doing well at their level should just quit? Nothing is preventing US Soccer from forming a league for the best players.

[Anonymous]

I suppose USSF could force lower level leagues to support academies in order to receive accreditation. That might help, but it's not like those teams make money.

[Anonymous]

He does realize that in Europe it's pay to play as well. Unless it's with one of the large academies.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Capitalism baby!

But honestly I feel like so many clubs should just stop gutting the rec leagues to make travel teams.

What does this even mean?

We have pay to play systems as we have a thriving capitalist based economy which benefits entities that can make buck on anything, like how we pay $2,000 for travel soccer that should cost $200 max in a rec league.

Why should all rec leagues just funnel into travel programs?

Basic economics supply/demand. People will pay for travel, so someone will offer it.

[Anonymous]

Republicans have strategically demonized taxation, so we are stuck with pay for play capitalist society until European taxation takes hold here (never). Places like Denmark pay about $300 all in for a club b/c it comes from public funding. One could argue that the taxpayer is paying regardless...so you're still paying. The difference being that now granny and grandpa without kids in soccer are helping foot the bill. In the end, everyone needs paid. It's a matter of how, how many, and by who.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Republicans have strategically demonized taxation, so we are stuck with pay for play capitalist society until European taxation takes hold here (never). Places like Denmark pay about $300 all in for a club b/c it comes from public funding. One could argue that the taxpayer is paying regardless...so you're still paying. The difference being that now granny and grandpa without kids in soccer are helping foot the bill. In the end, everyone needs paid. It's a matter of how, how many, and by who.

Can you please give exact details on how the public funding in Denmark goes to grassroots clubs?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:He does realize that in Europe it's pay to play as well. Unless it's with one of the large academies.

In Europe it's either free or low annual costs for parents.
We wouldn't be having this discussion if we were spending $200 a year for playing in ECNL or EDP

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:There's some delicious irony in FIFA demanding an end to pay-to-play. Isn't it among the most corrupt organizations in the world?

Seriously. I thought that headline was a typo or was taken from The Onion

FIFA Officials Open For 2030 World Cup Bribes
https://www.theonion.com/fifa-officials-open-for-2030-world-cup-bribes-1849904666

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah good luck with that:

https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/fifa-president-infantino-says-usa-has-to-end-pay-to-play-system/

I read this -- quite silly. There is no chance of that happening in the US. None. The shop owner gave jerseys and the lawyer gave shoes --- never in a million years would they get the vast amount of supplies and money needed in the US to do this. I sometimes think Euros do not understand the size of the US.

I think you are right that folks say this stuff, but just don't get the scale of the US. A lot of these Euro countries have declining youth populations as well. We have more "youth" in the US than Italy's entire population. I assume FIFA just sees the US as a major revenue source. Nothing is stopping these big Euro soccer clubs from setting up an academy system here to find talent to feed into their clubs.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Yeah good luck with that:

https://worldsoccertalk.com/news/fifa-president-infantino-says-usa-has-to-end-pay-to-play-system/

I read this -- quite silly. There is no chance of that happening in the US. None. The shop owner gave jerseys and the lawyer gave shoes --- never in a million years would they get the vast amount of supplies and money needed in the US to do this. I sometimes think Euros do not understand the size of the US.

I think you are right that folks say this stuff, but just don't get the scale of the US. A lot of these Euro countries have declining youth populations as well. We have more "youth" in the US than Italy's entire population. I assume FIFA just sees the US as a major revenue source. Nothing is stopping these big Euro soccer clubs from setting up an academy system here to find talent to feed into their clubs.

There’s a lot stopping them. Like passports.

[Anonymous]

In the US, even soccer is a rich person’s game. Merit and opportunity come a distant second.

[Anonymous]

Maybe Ryan reynolds and rob mcelhenny can come rescue USA youth soccer