Jonjo Shelvey relocated to the United Arab Emirates to raise his children ‘more safely’ he says, facing down his online detractors.
The former England international recently went viral after taking a penalty in front of only 75 fans—a stark contrast to his days playing for major Premier League clubs such as Liverpool and Newcastle United. The video received over a million views, but the player revealed that the resulting mockery “doesn’t bother” him.
In an interview, the 33-year-old footballer revealed that the real reason behind his move to the UAE was the decline in public safety in the UK in recent years.
If I’m honest, I don’t want my children growing up in England any more. We’re very lucky that we lived in a nice part of the UK but where I’m from, originally, you can’t have nice things in my opinion.
I’d never wear a watch in London any more. You can’t have your phone out in London, in my view.
Shelvey, who now plays in Dubai for Arabian Falcons FC, also mentioned some additional, more personal reasons: “I’ve had my time, I’m happy and content. I’m just at the stage now where I want to enjoy football. It’s about waking up, enjoying what I do and spending time with my family.”
Shelvey’s observations underscore the concern that crime pays in modern Britain.
