FOOTBALL is the beautiful game. But the greed which pervades it is ugly as a Robbie Savage tackle.

The parents of promising junior footballers at York City's Centre of Excellence are being asked to stump up £200 towards running costs.

Why? Because the game's governing bodies, including the FA, reduced funding for Conference academies.

It was the FA, of course, which stood idly by as City slid towards oblivion. Now the rulers of a sport which saw a £100 million team take to the field last night refuse to spend a Premiership player's weekly wage to support talented York youngsters.

They should be ashamed.

Updated: 10:41 Thursday, April 28, 2005