Former Wales international Robbie Savage believes that the majority of footballers are model professionals and do not deserve to be criticised following the recent comparisons of the English game and London 2012 Olympics.
Footballers have come under pressure after the positive example set by the Team GB athletes, who collectively won 29 gold medals, 17 silver and 19 bronze.
Queens Park Rangers midfielder Joey Barton believes that a sense of "humility" is needed in football, but Savage has claimed that only a small minority bring down players' reputations.
Savage tweeted: "The 5% [of footballers] are the ones who have the diamonds before achieving anything - burn £50 notes, would rather sit on a bench than play [because they're] on a fortune.
"The ones who go out on a Saturday night lording it thinking they're invisible - the ones who wear those daft headphones through the mixed zone to avoid the press, the ones who have delusions of grandeur!!
"They are the ones who spoil it for the 95% of others who are the ones who appreciate what it is to be a footballer!! Such an easy target footballers , but the top ones perform week in week out and are at the top of there profession!"
Former Manchester United striker Michael Owen has had his say in the argument by claiming that the "culture" of football is completely different and should not be compared with the Olympics.
