Player withdrawals ruins friendly for spectators

The FA’s decision to allow the players participating in the Champions League to return to their clubs is very disrespectful to the clubs fighting relegation.

England allowed John Terry, Ashley Cole, Frank Lampard, Wayne Rooney and Michael Dawson all return to their respective clubs ahead of their big Champions League games next week.

So why not release Scott Parker, Robert Green, Ashley Young and Darren Bent to West Ham and Aston Villa respectively? Clubs who are currently involved in a relegation battle.

This decision also robs the 80,000 plus crowd at Wembley, who have paid money to see England’s top stars, the chance top watch a good friendly with all the big name players. Tickets are priced at up to £40 and for those who have already purchased a ticket for the game tonight must feel like it is a waste of money.

A leading England supporters group reiterated this and one member expressed his disappointment at allowing the five players to depart the squad. Mark Perryman, the LondonEnglandFans convenor, said: ”There are going to be some who haven’t been to Wembley before and this is a big day out for them and their families maybe and they weren’t aware that these kinds of things went on.”

”What I think they should do is; as a result, reduce the prices of the tickets for friendlies. The FA need to be a bit more astute, a bit more honest with the fans, trust the fans.”

Some of the Ghanaian players were also disappointed with the realisation that they wouldn’t be facing a full strength England side. Asamoah Gyan, the Sunderland striker, said: ”I might be disappointed but it’s one of those things. Maybe the fans are disappointed as we have never played against England. They have paid a lot of money. They came to see Rooney and the big players. But England are still strong. They’ve never lost to an African team”

With Ghana selling 20,000 tickets it still proves to be a fantastic atmosphere at Wembley for the game tonight but all the singing will be coming from the Ghanaian faithful who are just proud to watch their nation play England for the very first time.

By Tariq Saleh

Twitter – @TariqSaleh21