frbleus1-3, Exercise 3: Professionalism in England, Scotland and France

Model answer (check the dates):

| Country | Professionalism legalised | League begins |
|---|---|---|
| England | 1885 | 1888 (Football League) |
| Scotland | 1893 | 1890 (Scottish League, amateur at first) |
| France | 1932 | 1932 to 1933 (national professional championship) |

What the differences suggest:
- England accepted payment early because its northern industrial towns already supported large crowds and clubs, and professionals had been paid openly for years.
- Scotland held out longer, with a strong amateur tradition, but legalised in 1893 once the league was established.
- France was nearly half a century behind, because of the strength of the amateur ideal in its sports federations and a smaller industrial base for crowds.

Caution: legalisation tells you when the rule changed, not when payment began. In all three countries money was changing hands before the rule was changed.

Care: check the dates against reliable histories of each association.