Bassett wants PFA to 'educate' players

Dave Bassett has called on professional footballers to be educated in “life skills” so they can cope with the trappings of the film star life-style that many now enjoy.

Leicester City’s director of football believes that the Professional Footballers’ Association should play a leading role in preventing incidents such as the one several of the Foxes players were caught up in during the club’s trip to La Manga.

A group of players were involved in what manager Micky Adams described as “drinking to excess” in the lead-up to the alleged incident which led to nine players being arrested and three charged with sexual assault.

Bassett feels that today’s players in general have to come to terms with the price of fame as they are under the spotlight more than ever.

The former Wimbledon boss said: “I think incidents like this (in La Manga) get a lot more press now.

"What happens now is that clubs and footballers are under the microscope more than they have ever been.

“Footballers have got to be educated. It’s something that Micky and myself have been talking about and I think the PFA have got to come in here.

“We send the kids at a young age to school to educate them so if they don’t become a footballer they can end up getting another occupation.

“What we need to do desperately is get life skills into them. We have got to teach the younger generation coming on that they are moving into the film star world – because that is what footballers are.

“They are there to be shot at and they’ve got to learn from the film stars. Tom Cruise and Tom Hanks don’t get into these situations.

“They might have to have minders. They really need to be educated and it really needs to be given a lot of thought.”

Bassett added: “It is something the PFA should be setting up because when kids are 18 or 21 and have a lot of money, it’s something they are not used to.

“They are not equipped to deal with it. Most of us spend our lives working hard and getting the rewards at the other end of our lives.

“A lot of these young lads get carried away. They go away, like their mates who work in the factories and offices, and get a bit high spirited.

“But they don’t realise that people are watching them and they are easy touches. They’ve got to go out and work on the basis they can’t be like their mates down the road.

“All of a sudden, people see them as stars and they want to latch onto them, whether it be girls or fellows, in terms of creating a situation.

“To me, it is a vitally important factor. Footballers are under the microscope and have got to learn that is part and parcel of football now.

“I don’t think a lot of players realise they are moving into this film star category. (David) Beckham does but a lot don’t realise they are idolised and adored by a lot of people.

“We should even consider sitting down with our older players and say use your loaf when you go out and be careful that don’t get into altercations.”