Slave Players ?
RONALDO was last night branded a mercenary. The
Manchester United star faced a torrent of condemnation for his
latest outrageous outburst — claiming he has been treated like a
slave.
The soccer world also united against FIFA president
Sepp Blatter, who sparked the ‘slave’ scandal and claimed United
should let Ronaldo have his dream move to Real Madrid.
Premier League chairmen have called for Blatter to
resign, labelling his comments as insulting, drivel and complete
nonsense. And one former England star insisted Blatter had insulted
black players across the globe, raging: “Slaves were hung, drawn
and quartered rather than paid millions of pounds to play
football.”
But it was United winger Ronaldo, 23, one of the
world’s richest and most famous sportsmen, who ignited the furious
backlash.
Birmingham City chief executive KARREN
BRADY was incensed by his comments. She said: “Slaves?
That’s not a word I’d use. I think I’d use mercenaries. “We are
talking about players earning six figures a week who want to ignore
contracts. If this is allowed to happen there will be
anarchy. “What he’s said is unbelievable. With all the FIFA
regulations it is becoming harder and harder for clubs to retain
their assets. “A player signs a contract and he should understand
that he can’t just relieve himself of the contract when something
else comes along.” Ronaldo’s comments were triggered by Blatter’s
astonishing claims that players were being treated like slaves and
should be free to leave whenever they like.
Wigan chairman DAVE WHELAN immediately
called for the FIFA chief to step down. Whelan said: “The man is a
complete idiot. You’ve got to ask whether Blatter is fit for
purpose after what he’s said. The answer over the years is that he
clearly isn’t. To even indicate that players are treated like
modern-day slaves is outrageous. How stupid can that man be?”
Birmingham chairman DAVID GOLD said:
“I can’t think of anyone who has stayed in such a similar position
of power for so long, who has come out with such drivel. “It’s
arrogant nonsense and complete and utter rubbish. “If he was
comparing lower league players with slaves — those who are not
earning big money — maybe you could see where he was coming from.
“But to use the word in the same breath as Ronaldo, on £120,000 a
week, is looking at one side of the coin.”
MILAN MANDARIC, the former Portsmouth
owner, now at Leicester, said: “Blatter has said some daft things
over the years, but this has to be the most disgusting thing he’s
ever come out with. It is obscene. “Footballers these days being
modern-day slaves? Well, don’t you just feel so sorry for these
poor little rich souls, earning massive money for doing something
they love.”
Former Watford, AC Milan and England striker
LUTHER BLISSETT blasted: “Does he not realise how
much offence he is causing by throwing in a word like ‘slavery’ in
the context of footballers earning millions of pounds a year? It’s
totally outrageous. “He obviously does not understand the
significance of the term. It’s insulting to all the people who have
been real slaves through the ages. The guys who would get hung,
drawn and quartered or beaten for being slaves rather than paid
millions. “The man doesn’t think before he opens his mouth and I’m
sure every black player who heard his words will be wondering what
planet he’s living on. It’s just a completely inappropriate
comparison to make.”
JOHN BARNWELL, chief executive of the
League Managers Association, said: “For someone of Mr Blatter’s
standing to come out and say that is a bit mind-boggling. It shows
he is out of touch with the professional game. "The transfer system
is written by Mr Blatter’s own organisation and a comparison to
players on £120,000 a week to a modern-day slave is a very poor
choice of words.”
RICHARD BEVAN, chief of the League
Managers’ Association, said: “What Blatter has said about Ronaldo
and United is ridiculous. “For someone at FIFA to say such a thing
is embarrassing. It is so ill-considered. “All this proves yet
again is that Blatter is so out of touch with professional
football.”
PFA chief executive GORDON TAYLOR
said: “Sepp Blatter’s comments are slightly bizarre. “He and FIFA
should be doing more to stop Real Madrid clearly destabilising a
contracted player. “Contracts need to be honoured by players unless
there is mutuality with the club.”
And former Charlton defender CHRIS
POWELL, another PFA official, said: “I really hope Sepp
will retract what he has said. “There are plenty who go and watch,
spending their hard-earned money every week, who will not be happy
with Blatter saying Ronaldo is being treated like a slave. He is
far from it.” Even UEFA distanced themselves from Blatter and his
comments.
UEFA slam Blatter
Communications director William Gaillard, who also serves as
special advisor to UEFA president Michel Platini, gave a different
point of view and claimed salaries are 'spiralling out of
control'. 'It would be useful to remind people that
slaves in all of the slavery systems never earned a wage,' Gaillard
said. The Bosman ruling came into effect in 1995, allowing
players free transfers at the end of contracts, and those coming to
the conclusion of their deals have become prey for other
clubs. 'It seems that both clubs and players are trying to
negotiate an exit before the player is free,' Gaillard
added. 'It is a consequence of the Bosman ruling - there is
nothing we can do about that. 'It is obvious that today
players have a lot more power than they did 20 years ago,
undoubtedly, and agents have a lot more power than they did 20
years ago. It is true that salaries are spiralling out of control.
Many clubs have pointed that out.'
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