Should players caught under the influence of illicit drugs be sacked from their club?

Question

the players and the players association often refer to footy as their work place or their job,if you or i were caught at our work places under the influence of drugs im sure most of us would get the sack,should the same apply to these glorified workers?

Answer 1

yes they should.............

they give kids an bad example and a bad role model for young kids

Answer 2

Are we talking about them turning up to games/training under the influence or is the majority of the problem what they do on there own time?  People do not get sacked for their extra curricular activities unless they bring it into the work place.

Unfortunately most of these guys are treated like celebrities, they get paid a lot of money and they are young.  A h**l of a lot of young professionals out there ie lawyers, top execs etc are taking drugs.  

Having said that I am 100% against drugs and especially against my sons role models being more known for their drug taking habits then their skill but I am not sure of the legality of sacking someone for what they do in the off season.

Answer 3

Maybe they should sack the drug testers for not doing their job properly  can you remember one AFL footballer that has tested positive for drugs by them I cant and when this came up on the footy show everyone on the panel admitted there was a drug problem with some players so why haven't they caught any and yes if they are under the influence while playing they should be sacked but not if they are in their own time.

Answer 4

I believe in giving everyone a second chance no matter  who it is and where they come from, It also applies where they work and if they play sport professionally.

To answer your question, No. The player deserves a hefty penalty and even game suspention, but he also deserves a 2nd chance.

Don't get me wrong, I am against drugs, and drugs in sport is a big NO,NO. These footballers are role models and should set an example to kids wanting to become someone of importance.

Answer 5

one answer yes....

zero tollerance is the answer my friends... no one is above the law and what they are doing is illegal...

for sports star to do drugs is promoting and glorifying drug use to the people who idolise them...

Answer 6

Yes absolutely...drugs and sport just don't go together!  AFL should come down a lot harsher on players who take drugs, you would only need to sack a few before the players started taking it serious....

Its a joke at the moment...they even get told when they're about to drug test!

Answer 7

ok, heres  my 2 bobs worth...  these guys are breaking the rules , but not in their work place. they did it outside of their work place, and your employer can not dictate to you how you should behave outside of work. only if it interferes with your performance at work can they take action.  also  footy players get paid a heck of a lot more money than an average worker does and that also gives them a much bigger avenue for getting into trouble.  Cut their wages , its ridiculous the amount they get for doing something that they love.  what ever happened to being  proud just to play for your club?

ok, im done.   i feel so much better now..lol

Answer 8

yes and sent to jail

but as usual bleeding hearts always pop up and say lets give him a second chance, drugs are illegal its a crime and they should be sacked and sent to jail

Answer 9

I think they should get sacked.  As you say the football club is their workplace, why should they have different workplace rules to what the rest of us "real" workers have.  Every employer I have worked for had a zero-tolerance stance on drugs, and it was instant dismissal for anyone who turned up to work under the influence of drugs and alcohol, there were no warnings or second chances given.  It is totally unfair, if I had a drug problem do you think I would get the same treatment Ben Cousins has recieved.  More than likely not, I would have to pay for my own drug rehab treatment and more than likely would get the sack from work if it was that serious.  It stinks, he can afford to pay for his stint in rehab but is getting the AFL to pay for it for him.

Answer 10

Unfortunately it's not that simple - how are the clubs going to know this when the AFL sanctions all the testing, and only informs the club on the second offence?  The reality is, the players may know and realise there is a problem, but the clubs have a difficult time policing this under the current guidelines.  Give the clubs the power to test, and the power to police, give the player a second chance, then show them the door.

Answer 11

sack them and call the cops this rubbish has to stop.kids look up to these guys