James Milner has seen just about everything in his soccer career. But in his 24th Premier League season, Milner will encounter one new thing. It’s something the Liverpool and Manchester City legend doesn’t want, but is happening anyway.
In an interview with The Athletic, Milner spoke out against cameras in dressing rooms. It’s one initiative the Premier League is doing for this season’s broadcasts. On the topic of privacy, particularly among young players adapting to fame, Milner pointed out that the dressing room was one of the last truly private places for a player in their life, and he feels that is being taken away with the new initiative.
Milner said, “Everything is so public. There is talk about having cameras in dressing rooms, which for me is an absolute no-go. That can’t happen.”
Cameras having “limited access” to dressing rooms was one thing the Premier League is doing for broadcasts on Sky Sports and TNT in England. Along with mid-match interviews with substitutes and camera operators allowed to enter the pitch for close-up views of goal celebrations, some fans took it as an attempt to “Americanize” the Premier League by implementing things that are common in American sports.
That being said, cameras in locker rooms isn’t something American sports typically do. There are cameras outside the locker room, and maybe some lower-tier sports leagues have cameras in locker rooms, but that’s not something you’re going to see on an NFL broadcast.
It remains to be seen how fans react to these initiatives when the season starts with Liverpool vs. Bournemouth on Friday, August 15.
About Phillip Bupp
Producer/editor of the Awful Announcing Podcast and Short and to the Point. News editor for The Comeback and Awful Announcing. Highlight consultant for Major League Soccer as well as a freelance writer for hire. Opinions are my own but feel free to agree with them.
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