Introduction
Since the dawn of mediated sports, journalism has tried everything to get a peek behind the curtain in every level in sports. From world renowned Franchises and federations, to sponsors and players, the inside scoop is worth a lot to those who break the stories. Normally, something like a scandal would be detrimental to a player, a franchise, or even a federation. However, in today’s media based world, any publicity is good publicity. The more your name is on the news, the more marketable and recognizable your brand is. The media takes advantage of any type of story that would help them sell papers, and reach audiences no matter the subject line. In European football, it is none different, and even though the US sports media market has a strong hold on what audiences see. The rest of the world is focused more on the black and white ball sport. Around the world, sports journals live off what happens in these European football matches. There are journals that are based in a city like Barcelona, for example “SPORT” and “Mundo Deportivo”, who are primarily focused, and live off of their base cities team FCBarcelona. On the other hand, you can also find news on FCBarcelona on the front page of the Venezuelan sole sports newspaper, “Meridiano.” Any type of story, whether it is a scandalous night out from a famous player, or a brand new sponsorship deal between a famous club and company, or even a fake transfer rumor, can provide the daily bread for many media sources world wide.
Top Player’s Fight with the press is a huge Hypocrisy
The world of football is full of fake transfer rumors, one quarter of the year the media is full of rumors that Messi is leaving FCBarcelona, and by the end of the season he is signing a renewal. Around a story related to a top player like Messi, you can find many parties with opposing views looking to capitalize on the rumors surrounding the player . Messi himself benefits from the increase in publicity, media share, and it also serves as way to pressure either his home club to give him a better contract, or for the opposing team to increase their offer. Newspapers, can either support the rumor, or deny it in order sell papers, and both franchises can pressure their local media to deny or promote said rumors. People usually do not look underneath the head lines, and gossip, and realize that there is always an ulterior motive. In this season, the big rumor that is selling papers, is the rumors surrounding young media superstar Neymar JR. Neymar left FC Barcelona, to play at French top club Paris SG, but Spanish media is full of stories saying that the player regrets his decision to leave Spanish club. Both journals based in Madrid, and Barcelona are releasing stories that promote these rumors, hoping that the young star will return to Spain. Meanwhile in France these rumors are mostly denied, although the Brazilian star is criticized by many french journalist. Neymar himself is playing both fronts, one week he is posting pictures all over Paris expressing his love for the city, and the next he visits his old teammates in Barcelona. Players are highly critical of journalist and the stories they release, but meanwhile all parties are benefiting. Expert readers know, that only official statement by the franchises are valid proof of a transfer, everything else serves as a sells strategy.
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