Let common sense prevail

The Premier League has a difficult decision to make, without doubt. A CEO in the public spotlight has to be uber (sorry, is that a non PC term?) careful about what he (or she), does, says or appears to say or do in public. One false move can end a career. But what Richard Scudamore allegedly did was not in public. A temporary employee accessed his private e-mail account (Richard, memo to self here), and then, for whatever reason, decided to release to whoever was prepared to pay him/ her/it a sizeable sum, e-mails that were private and which contained material that was at worst distasteful and at best lacking judgment.

So let's hang him. Force him to resign for this heinous crime. God forbid that anyone should share a salacious e-mail (you should see the ones that my wife and her female friends send round). Or, alternatively take a balanced view and consider some important, if politically inconvenient, facts.

The  Premier League under Richard Scudamore's leadership has become the most successful and most profitable soccer league in the world. The TV deals that he and the team that he employs have negotiated are envied around the globe. Do you really think that Manchester United, which was an average First Division club well behind Liverpool on a world scale, would have become as financially strong as it has without the foundation of the Premier League that Richard Scudamore has been instrumental in creating? Of course not. They would be miles behind the game (excuse the pun).

UK sport needs strong and visionary leaders of which Richard is a prime example. People who leave factional interests and politics to one side and do what is right for the sport they are paid to champion.  We need more Richard Scudamores, not fewer, and if he is hounded out of his position by the short sighted, politically biased PC brigade then the Premier League and sport in general will be the poorer.

So, PL Council or whoever will adjudicate on this, please use your common sense. If Richard Scudamore has made a mistake treat him as you would hope to be treated yourselves - not as a model of perfection but as a fallible human being who is well meaning but imperfect and whose record over 20 years speaks for itself. And please don't fall into the trap of saying that he must be treated as a footballer would be. Without him, they probably wouldn't have jobs.