Football: Fee speech: The right to know
Libero: Ian Ridley on football
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Transfer deadline day was marked by Kenny Dalglish's first major signing for Newcastle United, Des Hamilton from Bradford City. The fee seems to have been pounds 1.5m, despite being variously reported as anything between pounds 1m and pounds 2.5m. Why, though, should it have to be guesswork?
The Premiership and Football League never release the size of fees, saying that they are private matters between clubs. The clubs themselves frequently put out sums that suit them, depending on whether they want fans to think they are being extravagant or shrewd. Selling and buying clubs can release differing fees.
In the United States there is no such nonsense. Players' salaries are a matter of public record, as are the amounts involved in "trades" between teams. It should be so over here, to end the guesswork and dissemination of misinformation that the media are forced into carrying.
Perhaps then we might see an end to the bung-culture secrecy that still prevails, about which we will hear more when the Premiership inquiry reports any week - or perhaps year - now. Besides which, quaint as it may sound, the fans who pay for it all should have a right to the truth.
ONE can only hope it is not some portent of a troubled and difficult future for Middlesbrough, but the last North-east team to win at Wembley were Whickham, who claimed the FA Vase in 1981.
Sadly they are now in danger of folding. One of their recent Northern League matches attracted just six paying spectators, only three of whom could be tempted into buying a programme.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments