The European Football Championship 2024 is like a burning glass. Within four weeks, the players will be in the public spotlight in a way they rarely are. They have to perform to the letter. Those who play a good tournament increase their market value. As fast-moving as our world is, market values also rise rapidly. The pressure is all the greater.
ZDF recently released a documentary. It's called "Pressure in football - when the psyche fails". Professionals come out of the closet and talk about how team-mates vomit before the game and stick their fingers down their throats. Or about insomnia and diarrhoea before the game. The documentary provides food for thought about the state of our society - and how we deal with certain issues.
"It sucks": The pressure on professional footballers
The immense pressure on players can lead to serious physical and psychological reactions. Diarrhoea and vomiting before games are not uncommon. These symptoms show just how much stress can affect the body. "It sucks" - and we mean that literally. The famous finger in the throat can be interpreted as a kind of release. Players have to deal with the pressure to perform, the stress of deadlines and the expectations of fans and the media. They pay a price for this that is often invisible.
Social media: The curse of modern communication
Social media has lowered the inhibition threshold. Players are not only judged and criticised on the pitch, but also online. Anonymous insults and threats are the order of the day. Footballers like Robin Gosens report death wishes and insults sent to them and their families. These anonymous attacks show a darker side of the digital world.
The only thing that helps is to deal with it preventively. Dealing with hate messages is unfortunately part of the process. The good thing is that those who choose this profession with their eyes open are generally better able to deal with such situations. Nobody is forced to become a professional footballer.
Footballers in the crossfire like politicians
The pressure on footballers is comparable to that experienced by politicians. Both are constantly in the spotlight and are scrutinised by the media and the public. A professional footballer is constantly observed and judged - not only for his sporting achievements, but also for his behaviour off the pitch. Footballers are in the crossfire in a similar way to politicians. The only difference is that they are much better paid.
School grades and their effects
The practice of rating footballers with school grades after every game often causes helplessness. These grades do not always reflect a player's performance or effort, but often only the journalists' perception. This can be frustrating and discouraging for the players, especially if they stick to the coach's tactical guidelines and still receive poor marks. Players also have to come to terms with this. Better: they should not allow such subjective assessments to affect them at all. If players place too much weight on their marks, their performance on the pitch will suffer if they receive a poor rating. Or to paraphrase Paul Watzlawick: "Words create reality." Players should be aware of this.
Mental support in sport
It is becoming increasingly clear that footballers need not only physical but also mental support. Sports psychologists could help here, but they are often underpaid and not sufficiently recognised. The figure of 50,000 euros is quoted for a psychologist. This is a joke compared to the players' salaries. Yet mental health is a crucial factor in the performance and well-being of players, and it is time to give this issue more importance. Footballers should have more courage to engage with psychology - and deal with it publicly.
More on this topic in my podcast "Find the core".