Football clubs are seen by the UK public as greedy, aggressive and ruthless, according to a study commissioned by the Co-operative Insurance Society.
The survey of 1019 adults found that around three-quarters of respondents described football clubs as aggressive, ruthless or greedy – a greater proportion than those who said they were ‘friendly’ (59 per cent) ‘inclusive’ (56 per cent) or ‘fair’ (50 per cent).
Only 36 per cent of those questioned felt the clubs – a number of whom are listed in London – were honest.
Nick Rand of the Future Foundation think tank, which carried out the survey, said the results showed people wanted to see ‘more fair play [from the clubs] in their behaviour in wider society’.
He added that the public linked the clubs with ‘the same negative qualities that people associate with companies seen to be bad citizens’, and that ‘they need, as much as other business, to demonstrate their good citizenship through a commitment to their local area and wider social concerns.’