The Prime Minister and the Reds

Amnesty are warning Liverpool not to accept a bid for a 30% stake in Liverpool FC from the Thai Prime Minister, Thaksin Shinawatra. They have pointed out that there are significant questions to be asked about Thailand's human rights record in the past year. In particular they pointed to the manner in which Thailand's police are dealing with a drug problem. Talk about a zero-tolerance policy. (They allegedly knock off suspected drug dealers. Problem solved.)

I find this troublesome in the extreme. As much as I would like Liverpool to have the clout (and more importantly, dosh) to attract the very best, I don't really want it to happen in this manner. I have to admit to feeling that the successes of clubs that have unlimited money are somewhat hollow. Where is the challenge? (Having said that, Chelsea didn't win the Premier League, despite their Russian benefactor.) I don't wish for sport to go back to the 'good' old days of amateurism, but at the same time, I don't feel that bought success can be anywhere near as sweet as that that is well crafted with graft. Especially if that money is taken with no regard for its origins or implications.