I read last week that he may be coming to the Premier League next year
Sounds like trouble brewing
Bayern drop outspoken Effenberg MUNICH, Germany (Reuters) - Bayern Munich captain Stefan Effenberg has been unexpectedly dropped from coach Ottmar Hitzfeld's lineup for Saturday's match against Hertha Berlin because of his criticism of unemployed people. Outrage over the comments by the millionaire soccer star, who said that most jobless people were too lazy to look for work because unemployment benefits were too generous, has swept the country and even spilled into the German election campaign. 'The match against Hertha is so important for us and we need the complete support of the crowd for it,' said Hitzfeld of the home match in Munich's Olympic Stadium on Saturday. Both teams are battling for third place in the league and a spot in next season's Champions League. 'I hope and expect that the fans will help us to get the three important points in the battle for a Champions League qualification spot,' Hitzfeld said. Hitzfeld had earlier joined a chorus of criticism against Effenberg for calling most unemployed people lazy. 'It wasn't smart of him to make comments like that,' Hitzfeld had said earlier before announcing late on Friday Effenberg would be on the bench on Saturday. 'It's a burden for the whole team,' he added. 'But I hope that they can shake it off and concentrate on the match. Effenberg didn't do us any favours with the remarks.' Effenberg, who earns a reported four million euros a year, has refused to apologise for his remarks but political leaders and union bosses have condemned them as tactless. In an interview with Germany's Playboy magazine, Effenberg had highlighted the fact that jobless benefits were only slightly lower than the minimum wage by saying: 'I would cut jobless support to a minimum so that everyone would have to go to work. 'A lot are apparently living so comfortably from jobless benefits that they don't have any desire to get up early each morning and go to work.' He added on Wednesday: 'I didn't want to insult the unemployed who are really looking for a job. But I think the mass of unemployed is the way I described it. People are attacking me for it but I'm entitled to my opinion.' Effenberg, 33, has long been a controversial figure. He was dropped from the 1994 World Cup team after a match in Chicago against South Korea when he gave German fans a single finger gesture after being substituted following a poor performance. He was subsequently sent home and has never played for Germany since. Two years ago he paid a 167,000 mark out-of-court settlement after being charged with assault for hitting a woman in a Munich nightclub.

-- Anonymous, April 20, 2002

Answers

It's such a strange story that, a footballer being outspoken about politics.

From the sounds of this I don't think I'd want us to buy him. He's getting on a bit now and it seems he has a serious attitude problem.

Cheers for the story Barry.

-- Anonymous, April 20, 2002

He seems to be an arrogant prat, and certianly shouldn't be using his status as a senior international footballer to make insensitive, overtly political comments. However, he might be correct - we have had a measure of the same problem here whereby people have been able to get more in benefits than in full employment. I suspect the real problem here has been the ludicrously low wages paid for some jobs, but nevertheless such a situation presents a real societal problem.

-- Anonymous, April 20, 2002

I agree, Effenberg does come off sounding arrogant even though I think he's got a point. Much the same in the US welfare system. Recipients are actually penalized if they try to find even a minimum wage job. Some communities (usually wealthier ones) have job training programs for people on welfare. They're trained in higher level skills(secretarial, computer repair, auto mechanics, etc), given a set of decent work clothes and trained in proper workplace behavior. These programs then cultivate relationships with companies in the area to get graduates of the programs into decent paying jobs. Seems like it would be far more cost efficient for the US govt to set up a similar program nationwide. Perhaps the welfare system would become what it should be....a way to turn people down on their luck back into productive members of society.

-- Anonymous, April 20, 2002

Yes, the poorest in society have always paid the highest marginal rates of tax, often in excess of 100%! I've read that fact in the FT on several occasions, but you'll find it's readers whining about a 1% increase in NI as if they had been violently mugged!

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2002

Interesting. I wonder if we would have been criticising Effenburg for being overtly political if he had been demanding better treatment of the homeless and more investment in education? Wasn't Robbie fowler overtly political when he expressed support for the Liverpool dockers? Disagree with his views by all means, but not his right to express them, please.

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2002

It's not so much that but the other things mentioned in the story that make him look arrogant. The one story alone about his view on the unemployed is fine with me.

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2002

....ever been unemployed for any length of time Paul?

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2002

Isuspect Paul was saying it was fine for him to express his view, not that he agreed with it?

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2002

I'm only 18, still at school doing A-levels, only had part time work.

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2002

Aye Jacko, I have no problems with opinions, even if I disagree, but sticking your finger up at your own fans is not on in my book.

-- Anonymous, April 21, 2002