Premier League footballers urged to ditch bad behaviour and adopt the Olympic spirit

Premier League footballers are being urged to adopt the Olympic spirit and play fairer in a new campaign launched by Match of the Day Magazine and fronted by CBBC Match of the Day Xtra presenters Paz and Bez. The campaign follows a new poll conducted by Match of the Day Magazine website – MOTDmag.com – showing young fans see our Olympians as much better role models than their footballing counterparts, with 66% of 682 voters saying Team GB’s finest set a better example than Premier League footballers.

Paz and Bez, presenters on Match of the Day Kickabout and writers on the magazine, will be judging good examples of Olympic spirit and awarding ‘Golden Halo’ awards regularly throughout the season with a full awards at the season finale. They are also calling for kids to nominate their mates as well for something worthy of an MOTD Golden Halo. According to Paz and Bez: “We loved watching Team GB storming to gold at the Olympics, but we were also impressed with their amazing attitude. We reckon Premier League stars could learn from our Olympic heroes, so this season MOTD will be dishing out gongs for the best acts of fair play in footy. It might be admitting you’ve fouled someone, apologising for a bad tackle, helping an injured opponent or acting as peacemaker in a ruckus. Come on footballers, show us your metal!”
The campaign is launched in this week’s Match of the Day Magazine, priced at £1.99.
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For more information and a PDF copy of the feature please contact Toby Hicks, 020-8433-3807 toby.hicks@immediate.co.uk

About Match of the Day Magazine
Match of the Day magazine is published by Immediate Media Co, under license from BBC Worldwide and is the official magazine of the TV programme. Aimed at 8-14 year olds it is the market leading youth football weekly with 53,058 weekly readers according to the last ABC circulation figures (Jan-Dec11).