Blatter - Let Ronaldo leave

Fifa president calls for player protection amid 'modern slavery'

By James Dall   Last updated: 10th July 2008

Sepp Blatter

Blatter: Feels there is 'too much modern slavery' in football

I think in football there's too much modern slavery in transferring players or buying players here and there, and putting them somewhere.

Fifa president Sepp Blatter
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Fifa president Sepp Blatter believes that Cristiano Ronaldo should not be held against his will at Manchester United.

Ronaldo has been linked with a record-breaking transfer to Real Madrid following publicised courting from the Primera Division giants.

Real's open pursuit of the two-time PFA Players' Player of the Year saw United report the club to Fifa; however football's world governing body decided against taking any formal action.

On the subject of the Portugal international's future, Blatter expressed his belief that a want-away player should be allowed to leave his club if he so desires, while he also hit out at what he describes as 'modern slavery' in football.

Solution

"The important thing is, we should also protect the player," he told Sky Sports News.

"If the player wants to play somewhere else, then a solution should be found because if he stays in a club where he does not feel comfortable to play then it's not good for the player and for the club.

"I'm always in favour of protecting the player and if the player, he wants to leave, let him leave.

"I think in football there's too much modern slavery in transferring players or buying players here and there, and putting them somewhere.

"We are trying now to intervene in such cases. The reaction to the Bosman law is to make long-lasting contacts in order to keep the players and then if he wants to leave, then there is only one solution, he has to pay his contract."

Forget '39th game'

Meanwhile, Blatter has reiterated his stance over the Premier League's proposal to play a '39th game' overseas.

He said: "The 39th game as presented will never happen. To my knowledge what they (the Premier League) want to do is perhaps to play some of the League Cup matches somewhere outside of England. That's the last information I got.

"They should just forget about that."