Former England international Gary Lineker has condemned the “utterly depressing behaviour” of ambitious parents who rant and rave on the touchline trying to turn their children into soccer stars.
The 52-year-old presenter of the BBC’s flagship Match of the Day program said in an article in the New Statesman magazine that parents who behaved like this were wrecking their children’s confidence and stifling their development.
Lineker, who is England’s second-highest scorer with 48 goals and was never booked or sent off in his career, wrote: “The competitive nature of most mums and dads is astounding. The fear they instil in our promising but sensitive Johnny is utterly depressing.”
Lineker called for a “parental cultural revolution” and said that if parents let their children enjoy themselves, they would be “staggered at the difference it would make.”
“There is a breed of parent I have seen who hurl ridiculous abuse at officials or even the young player they are meant to be supporting. It’s as if they are living their own dreams through their kids,” he added.
Lineker said the way children played encouraged “big lads” to lump the ball forward and was one of the reasons for the malaise of the English game.
“It’s obvious why we have a long-ball culture: the big lads who kick it furthest are the ones who stand out. What chance for the diminutive yet gifted midfielder?” he said.
“No chance of him developing his tiki-taka football,” Lineker added, referring to the short-passes, possession-focused style of play.
Tracey Crouch, an English FA coach and a conservative member of parliament, backed Lineker’s comments.
“You can see players getting frustrated at the running commentary from their parents,” she said.
Another English lawmaker and qualified referee, Chris Heaton-Harris, said Lineker was “bang on,” adding: “some parents are like ultra-rude Alex Fergusons with none of the experience.”
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