This evening I watched a one off drama called “All in the Game” on Channel 4 which starred the excellent Ray Winstone (from the brilliant Sexy Beast movie).

The story focused on the much topical subject of corruption in football. Winstone plays a no nonsense manager of a struggling Premiership club which is under new ownership.

Winstone’s son is a corrupt football agent without a care for the beautiful game and who’s only concern is money. He is somebody who is willing to sell the clubs best players and bring in mediocre talent simply to make a quick wad of cash, all this being overseen and authorised by Winstone who receives a cut of the vast wealth.

The financially raped club is run by an experienced businessman although the job of being a football chairman is a new one to him. The man is distraught at the state of his beloved club, which he has invested millions into. The clubs downfall has also resulted in the poor chairman facing the brunt of furious supporters threatening both him and his family.

I personally found that the show was very entertaining and Winstone was perfectly cast in his role. Even though it was aired as a drama I am sure most of the issues raised in the storyline are common events in the modern game.

Corruption is rife. Agents, managers and chairmen are all in on it, taking bungs, financial backhanders and destroying the sport. Any football fan who followed the Harry Kewell transfer from Leeds to Liverpool a few years back will know something was seriously amiss. For shame.