Former professional football players Anwar El Ghazi, Frank de Boer, Regi Blinker and Gregory van der Wiel recognize that the current football world. They warn in conversation with Football zonereporter Jelle Kusters for the dangers of social media, but also of the 'consciously negative' statements made by analysts on television.

“Everything you do and say is now under a magnifying glass,” Anwar El Ghazi points out the biggest difference between football of the past and present. “Football is now also more focused on performance. It's about money, it's about winning, so a lot more things are done off the field.”

Gregory van der Wiel also notices the increasing role of money. They earn their money 'much more' and 'much faster', says the former right back of Ajax and Paris Saint-Germain, among others. Yet he points to social media as the biggest difference. “In my day, Twitter was just starting out, but you had no Instagram, no Facebook.”

And the rise of social media brings dangers, the former professionals realize. “You have to leave certain things behind,” El Ghazi cites an example. “If you go to McDonalds or eat a pizza the day before the match, there is a chance that someone will film you and you will be criticized.”

Frank de Boer also recognizes the disadvantages of the current online world. According to him, it is very easy to treat someone unfairly on social media. “You can make mistakes, everyone does. Face to face they don't tell you, but leaving a comment is very easy.”

“People don't realize what that does to the mental part of a player,” De Boer continues. “Then you can say: they have to learn to deal with thatbut you just have to be very aware of the impact it has on a player if you drive them into the ground.”

But it's not just social media, he points out Life After Footballfounder Regi Blinker. “They are also the analysts on TV, where you sometimes think that they deliberately say negative things to get attention.”

However, social media channels can also be used for something positive, El Ghazi thinks. “As I did, I think,” the winger refers to the pro-Palestinian posts he shared on his channels that earned him his dismissal from FSV Mainz.

“Being positive in the sense of standing up for injustice, speaking out about aspects that are not in the interest of the football world. But it can also be positive in the sense that you can help people and support good causes,” he concludes.

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