After the north London derby between Arsenal and Tottenham, Jack's fame grew. ++

Even Keith. Hackett couldn't even ignore it. So much so that after that, Jack was officiating the Premier League giants in succession. It's almost a turn to enforce the game of the giants.

Although because there is no strong dialogue during this time, it is just a match between the giants and some mid-table teams.

But it is already an indication of Jack's improved status in the refereeing world.

By January, Jack had not only officiated Premier League games, but also several FA Cup knockout games. It was at this time that Jack's negotiations with Essilor were coming to an end. Finally, the contract was formally signed in mid-January 2002.

Essilor is a big brand in the world, and since you choose a spokesperson, it will definitely not be so-so.

Even in terms of value, it will not be too shabby.

Not because they have money, but they can't afford to lose that person. The spokesperson who can be selected by them is all the leader of a certain industry. It's the same with Jack this time.

They fancy Jack in many ways. Therefore, it is not shabby for Jack.

Jack began endorsing the Essilor brand in January 2002 on a three-year contract until the end of 2005. Essilor gave Jack 110,000 pounds a year in endorsement fees, which was converted into more than 150,000 euros. Three Chinese New Year's Eve 30,000 pounds, about half a million euros in endorsement fees.

This is not low.

In the current European football world, only Jack is the only one who can get such a high endorsement fee. Corina doesn't have that worth at the moment.

Jack benefited more from the English-speaking market, after all, Jack was an English referee. The Premier League has a lot of influence in the English-speaking world and has enough exposure. On the contrary, the Italian league is more powerful than the English Premier League. But there is no such promotion as the Premier League in the world.

In addition, Jack is still young, good-looking, and Chinese, and these factors add up to such a high endorsement fee.

But as soon as it was revealed. Immediately got the most attention.

Referee endorsement is not a new thing.

After all, people are in Spain, Italy there. Commercial endorsements for referees are not uncommon. It's even been many years old.

But it's something new in the Premier League. Because the current referees of the Premier League have not really set foot in commercial endorsement referees. Including the current top referees in the Premier League, Bol and Gallagher, are not involved in commercial endorsements.

Very unexpected.

After all, the business of the Premier League is the best to play. The salaries of Premier League coaches and players have skyrocketed, and the club's commercial ability is getting better and better, and its commercial ability has surpassed La Liga and Serie A, which are the top European leagues. However, referees in Italy and Spain have begun to get involved in commercial endorsements, but no one in the Premier League has entered this field.

Jack was the first. The first to eat crabs will always receive the most attention.

Should referees accept commercial endorsements?

Even the referee committee was alarmed. Some people questioned that once the referee also has a commercial endorsement, it is very likely to be because of money. Lost the justice of the past.

Today Jack is only endorsing eyewear commercials, if Jack endorses a brand like Coca-Cola or Pepsi in the future, what will happen then?

These two Cokes are competitors, and there are also many stars who endorse these two Coke commercials. When the time comes, Jack and the player are the spokespersons of the same brand, can they continue to be impartial?

This is the biggest question. Such doubts are too loud, and they have already reached the ears of the referee committee.

Keith. Hackett didn't have Philip. Don is so tough, so he takes the opinion of the media very seriously. Seeing that the media is in an uproar now, he can only call a meeting of the Premier League referees.

"Jack, you're the party. Tell me about it first. ”

All the Premier League referees are here. Of course, it also includes the bigwigs at all levels of the referee committee. Jack really didn't expect this matter to come here.

But Jack didn't have anything to worry about. After all, he didn't violate any rules, and there was no problem with Essilor's endorsement.

"I don't think I've broken anything. The referee's endorsement of any brand is a private matter of the referee. I'm a very professional referee. I won't let anything off the pitch affect my decision on the pitch. ”

"You promise, what guarantee do you take."

Paul. Dugin directly interrupted Jack's words. Then he said very politely: "This should be opposed." So many clubs, players have their own advertising endorsements, if the referee's advertising endorsements are duplicated with them. What to do then? Who can guarantee that the referee will not be biased under the pressure of the sponsors? It's you, it's still you. None are guaranteed. ”

"Paul. I think that's an exaggeration. Why can clubs and players make money, but we referees can't make money. ”

Graham. Babbel sneered against Paul. Dugin's statement.

"We are referees. Referees should ensure fairness and impartiality. Can't get into the money pile. ”

Hear Paul. Dugin's words, Graham. Babbel laughed straight out of the crack. And the louder he laughed, the louder he became, and then pointed at Paul. Du Gin said: "You are because you have no chance to make money, so watch others make money." ”

"Graham, you ......"

"Alright."

Joe. Geist watched the two people fight, and immediately made a voice to calm them down. Both of them are old referees, both referees who came out in 74, so it's too ugly to fight like this.

Graham. Babbel didn't care at all.

Truth be told, Graham. Babbel also looked at Jack unpleasantly. At a young age, he became a Premier League referee and then an international referee. Even now endorsing a brand, with an income of 110,000 pounds a year, he is also blushing when he looks at it.

Originally, he was going to speak out against Jack's endorsement contract.

But I didn't expect to make Paul. Dugin brought it up first. Graham. Babbel is unhappy with Jack, but he's even more unhappy with Paul. Dugin. Neil. Barry debuted the earliest, while Paul. Dugin, Graham. Babbel became referees together.

But on his achievements in the world of refereeing, Graham. Babbel is the worst.

Neil. Needless to say, Barry is very popular and respected by the above. There is even news that he will be the next chief referee. But Neil. Barry has a good temper, Graham. Babbel is also not good at cooking with him.

And Paul. Dugin was very good as a referee and was the best referee in England for a while. But if you are strong, you will be strong, why do you look down on people. Paul. Dugin took himself too seriously and looked down on Graham at all. Babbel is the referee who debuted together.

Hence Graham. Babbel didn't like Paul the most. Dugin.

His style is simple.

Paul. Dugin is in favor of him and he is against, Paul. He agrees with what Dugin opposes.

"Hmph. I think it's a very simple thing, why do you make it so complicated. Their clubs and players can make money, and so can we, the referees. Why are they able to make a lot of money, but we can't make money to avoid suspicion? ”

Graham. Babbel himself didn't know why he said that. He looked at Paul anyway. Dugin was angry with Paul. If Dugin is against it, he will approve it. So just go straight to Jack.

"yes, I think so too."

Neil. Barry didn't speak and looked at Paul. Dugin and Graham. After Babbel finished arguing, he slowly expressed his position. Neil. Barry is now a very important moment, and he was reluctant to take a stand and wade into such troubled waters.

But this kind of thing he has to say.

"The income of our referees is still too low compared to the pressure we are under. I think it's a good thing to have a commercial endorsement. Of course, we, as referees, also need to pay attention to avoiding suspicion. So I think there should be some restrictions on the referee's endorsement. ”

"How?"

Keith. Hackett immediately asked Neil. Barry. Neil. Barry is the biggest candidate for the next chief referee, and his opinion is very important.

"We can limit the scope of referee endorsements. Some important endorsements of clubs and players, we referees must avoid. Because sports giants like Nike and Adidas, they are able to influence all aspects. We can't just trust the referee's ethics, even if the referee is an endorsement, he must avoid these products that are closely related to the club and the player. But there are other inconsequential things that I don't think we need to be too strict. ”

Jack looked at Neil. Barry was there to speak, and he was really impressed in his heart.

A year and a half ago, when Jack attended his first Premier League referee meeting, Neil Brown was a member of the Premier League. Barry is still talking to Paul. Dugin: They are-for-tat. Unexpectedly, only a year and a half later, Neil. Barry has changed a lot.

This is really an effort to succeed the chief referee.

It won't be too extreme, and all aspects of opinion should be considered.

"I also think the referee Barry is right. Whether in Spain or Italy, the referee can shoot commercials selectively. There is no problem with this, and no one has stipulated that the referee cannot shoot commercials. As long as you avoid some sensitive advertising endorsements, I think it's normal for referees to shoot commercials. ”

Pol also came up in support.

Soon a lot of referees were supportive. In fact, they are all very jealous of Jack now, after all, Jack has a super endorsement. 110,000 pounds a year, what a high income.

They all want to.

Just like Graham. As Babel said, why do coaches and players earn so much, and we referees earn so little. Everyone wants to make money.

Therefore, almost all referees supported it.

Keith. Hackett saw that everyone was supportive, so he nodded. and Philip. Don is different, Keith. Hackett was attentive to everyone's opinions.

Since most of the Premier League referees are in favor, he is certainly not willing to oppose it. So he finally said, "Okay." That's all for today, in principle, we believe that the referee has the right to speak. Next time, we'll talk about some of the products that can't be endorsed. (To be continued......) u