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Blatter 'slave' row
Join the Sky Sports debate following the Fifa president's comments about "modern slavery" in football.
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Comments (76)
Tim J says...
In some respect Blatter is correct. Manchester United and particularly Ferguson have bought players not necessarily to have them play but to prevent other teams signing them. They are now determined to keep Ronaldo to ensure he cannot play against them. At least Ronaldo can wait till Ferguson throws his dummy out of the pram again, this time with him not Keane or Beckham, then he will be free to go.
Posted 07:46 11th July 2008
African Football fan (Manchester United fan) says...
Slavery? If i could only have a fraction of Ronaldo's salary ! The man earns more in one month than most of us in one year.Adebayor Lampard Ronaldo they are all under contract, it is no matter of slavery they put pen to paper.Blatter and Platini are complete morons issuing statements like that, players can hold the clubs to ransom ????? where is the loyalty ?.5 year contract signed by the player and he is a slave seems clear to me Mr Blatter is a Real Madrid fan.
Posted 07:41 11th July 2008
Ks Mufan says...
Where was Sepp Blatter when MU wanted to buy Owen Hargreaves? The player wanted to come to MU for 3 years b4 he was allowed to leave Bayern, where was this idiot then? Why didn't he say anything then? He should just keep his trap shut and let the club deal with this.
Posted 06:54 11th July 2008
Ravi The red devil says...
Mr Blatter has no rights to speak as he did. He is elected with the votes of all members of FIFA not just the Spanish. How can Ronaldo be compared to 'slave' when he receives, maybe more money that Mr Blatter himself. Is Saha also a slave when he receives his pay without even touching the ball for weeks! Come on Mr Blatter, it seems that you just speak to make the headlines and you do not have any long term vision for modern football and how to support CLUBS, FANS and FOOTBALLERS.
Posted 05:58 11th July 2008
John Doe (Halifax Town fan) says...
Ronaldo signed a contract on his own free will and he is now bound by it, just as MU is. That is the way it is and the way it should be. Yhis has nothing to do with slavery at all. You want out, you pay the price, it's that simple. I get sick of football players who sign long contracts that offer them security of income for an extended period but start complaining if it stops them from moving to another club for yet a higher salary. You can't have your cake and eat it too!.
Posted 05:54 11th July 2008
Dave Hunter (Chelsea fan) says...
Blatter needs to go - and followed by Platini. Both are very anti EPL and anti English football and Blatter should spend some time with a shrink! Slavery? Paid 100K a week to kick a ball around and be worshipped by thousands - I wouldnt mind a couple of years of this kind of slavery! People sign contracts of their own free will and if they really want to get out of them, they should either buy it out or wait for a cluab that is prepared to pay their current clubs pricing. If we lived in a world with no contracts, it would just be anarchy and a free for all. I think it is becoming clear that clubs are beginning to hold the upper hand and quite rightly in most cases now. Long ago, the players were hard done by but now?? In the cases of Barry, Adebayor, Lampard and Ronaldo, it seems that self gratification is all they care about and it would not surprise me to see fans beginning to vote with their feet and attendances come down soon - or, the grounds will be full of people that know and care nothing about the clubs and are there just for a one off trip. Crazy times and a game seemingly being run by even more crazy people!
Posted 05:44 11th July 2008
Dustin Hayes (Chelsea fan) says...
Blatter has stunned football fans the world over by once again managing to get his enormous foot into his gaping hole of a mouth. Comparing modern footballers to slaves has to qualify as the most ridiculous statement of the year so far. Between him and that slug Platini, we will have enough anti-English material to to fill a book by the end of the year. As for the tedious and neverending Ronaldo-Real saga, I would love it if United just stopped fuelling the moron's ego and offloaded him. We all know that Fergie is not the type to put up with ego-centric little brats, and rightly so. Get rid of him while the price is right and get him out of the Premiership. He's despicable, and players of his type belong in La Liga strutting their stuff in front of half empty stadiums, not in England where football means something that the rest of the world does not know or understand.
Posted 04:53 11th July 2008
Geoff Swain (Chelsea fan) says...
Blatter needs to keep his nose out of these club issues. I wouldn't suppose this would have anything to do with the fact Blatter is a member of Real Madrid Club and a personal friend of Ramon Calderon. Who is no doubt up for re-election. Personally i think CR is good for the game but he can't be bigger than the club. That goes for Lampard and Drogba as well!
Posted 04:36 11th July 2008
Darren Howman says...
How can you compare football players to slavery. As an Arsenal fan and hearing comments like Adebayor saying he needs to leave to think of his 'retirement' makes me sick. As an African player look at your continent they are people who NEED money. If Ronaldo wanted to go to Real Madrid why did he sign a contract?? I can't believe we pay money week in week out to get stabbed in the back by idiots who think they deserve 100k a week. Football has lost its credibility.
Posted 19:32 10th July 2008
Sean England (Nottingham Forest fan) says...
So Ronaldo says he agrees with Sepp, well if he is so unhappy with life at Old Trafford why doesn't he do the decent thing and put in a transfer request? Isn't that the correct way to proceed (the FIFA way)? Also isn't it Mr Blatter who makes these MODERN SLAVERY rules as FIFA president? If he doesn't like HIS rules let HIM change them!! Until then leave the Worlds Football Clubs to play the game under FIFA's rules.
Posted 18:05 10th July 2008
Arthur Forrester says...
What planet is this man Blatter on with his recipe for disaster for our great game?Pure coincidence that he is a member of Real Madrid I suppose.I really am a very disgruntled Man Utd fan.
Posted 14:14 10th July 2008
Odyche J says...
I don't know what is all the fuss about Ronaldo wanting to leave or Real Madrid wanting the player. So what? if the guy doesn't want to be at Man U. He should be allowed to leave but at a cost. Man U slapp a price on him - £100m or even £125m. If Real Madrid want him that bad then they will have to cough out the money. But lets look at this case really well. Man U buy players from other clubs what makes them feel that other teams can't come for their players. They also paid money for Ronaldo who was under contract with another club at the time. Wenger won't waste his time on a player who doesn't want to play for him, ask Anelka!!!
Posted 14:14 10th July 2008
Nick Gadman (Manchester United fan) says...
Blatter is a stark raving lunatic who continually spouts nonsense. How he maintains the position he holds is beyond me (what's that you say? Corruption? Ah makes sense now, the state of the modern game). His comments stating that women footballers should wear tighter shorts in 2006 was an outrage that should have seen him removed from his lofty position in the clouds yet here he is again comparing a man who earns more money than he can spend with a dream lifestyle to a slave? The ignorance of his comment is outweighed only by its offensiveness.
Posted 14:14 10th July 2008
Karl Dammer (Manchester United fan) says...
The only burning question is why Sepp Blatter is still in charge of FIFA. Some of this mans comments are disgraceful, everytime he talks theres a scandal. Blatter has long shown his desire to wreck English football and the success of Premiership clubs who have finally clawed back the advantage long held by Spain clearly sits ill with him. Blatter must resign, theres no question of it now. When the leader of FIFA starts indicating players should be ale to turn merenray and abandon fou years of contract when a big clubs turns their head its clear there is something badly wrong. The implications are horrendous. Does this mean any of the English top four can have any player in the league we like just by turning their head and the player being allowed to walk regardless of contract? Its a farcical idea. Football could not survive. Players can negotiate release clauses and other clauses in contracts, but when you demand huge sums of money its based on the years of contract you sign for. Taking the whopping pay cheque for a year and then being allowed to walk out. The solution would be simple, contracts agreed at maximum value for five years, if a player chooses to dishonour the contract against the clubs wishes, they must return the money and accept a reduced wage for the period they played for, meaning 120k for five years, for one year 20k only. This way players would start to realise the value in honouring a deal. Get Blatter out, football must take this step to preserve the game, this man cannot be allowed to continue in charge. I cannot believe he is still allowed to preside over football when he clearly cares little for the game and everything for his own agendas.
Posted 14:13 10th July 2008
Mark Hadlow says...
I have to agree with all the other comments made, Platini and Blatter do not hide their contempt for English football, be it domestic or International. Mr Blatter should concern himself more with the dealings of his "friend" Jack Warner (ConCaCaf) which is within his remit, rather than levelling his wayward eye over something that should REMAIN in the hands of the English governing body. Perhaps Mr Blatter can answer why Germany have had 2 World Cup Finals in the time since our 1 and only hosting of this major event? Perhaps he can answer WHY Mr Warner insists that the US are a higher priority to host in 2018, above the Nation that GAVE football to the world? Seriously, he should perhaps concentrate on this new phenomenon, third party player "ownership" a truly modern take on "slavery". He has done nothing to erradicate this total abuse of young, poor and talented South American players. Why aren`t these players protected by FIFA? English Clubs have always treated their players and particularly the youth players exceptionally well. Ronaldo was recruited correctly by Man Utd, nurtured and turned into the best player in the World. There has been no wrong doing on Man Utd`s part, wanting to hold onto a "franchise player". Perhaps Mr Blatter should look more into Ronaldo`s actions in the last 6 weeks and also investigate Madrid and their conduct, which has unhinged a good team/player relationship purely through jealousy? Why are Real Madrid`s interests suddenly being defended by Mr Blatter? His attention has not been called for in a professional capacity, so his personal comments SHOULD be censured. Perhaps this faux pas of Mr Blatter is an indication that he is no longer capable of holding his position within World Football. Perhaps this is the heralding call for a COMPLETE change at the top level.
Posted 14:12 10th July 2008
Amit Shah (Manchester United fan) says...
So 120k a week, playing for the European and League champions, arguably the best team in the world, having someone to cut your toenails for you constitutes 21st Century slavery?! If Ronaldo wants to swap with me, I'll happily be a Manchester United "slave". Blatter's tirade against the Premier League is getting tiresome and I think its about time he got the sack. Surely FIFA's role is an objective one and I don't think Blatter has any morals whatsoever. As for Ronaldo, if you want to leave, go. Just remember when you're back in Lisbon, playing for a B grade football team in two years time or alternatively sitting on the bench at Chelsea or in the MLS, you could have achieved something great as part of Sir Alex Ferguson's last great squad. No player is above Manchester United, simple!
Posted 14:12 10th July 2008
Roy Shorrocks (Manchester United fan) says...
Sepp Blatter has a very short memory, not long ogo he complained that the "big four were gaining an unfair advantage due to the wages they can afford to pay. Now he advocates free movement of players. What he really means is if it bad for the premier league its good for football.
Posted 13:52 10th July 2008
Nwoko Wright (Liverpool fan) says...
This guy is an absolute idiot. If United did this to a real madrid player, and robinho decided to leave, I bet he would talk how he should honour his contract. Ronaldo & United agreed a contract both parties were happy with, he shouldnt have signed it and then go and act like a baby about it. If Ronaldo was injured at a world cup, or had suffered an injury in the euros .. United would be paying his wage, not fifa or uefa because then it doesnt concern them. They can't accept the english leagues are the most popular in the world and is making money. To talk about slavery, how dare he. I had ancestors who were kept as slaves and they were beaten, kept in disgusting conditions and forced to do things against their will. Ronaldo is loved by fans, he gets paid a ridiculous amount. He has shown no commitment for the team that has made him. Without a doubt he would have stayed a diving cheat if fergie hadnt sorted him out. SEPP BLATTER & PLATINI HATE THE ENGLISH GAME .. WE ALL KNOW THAT, THEY WILL MOVE THE EARTH TO HELP SPANISH TEAMS BUT WHEN IT COMES TO ENGLAND, WE'RE ALWAYS IN THE WRONG. If he is comparing ronaldo to a slave, Then blatter and platini are the mugabes of football
Posted 13:50 10th July 2008
Ben Mill says...
Yet another of Blatter's moments of stupidity. If players should be allowed to leave when they want, disregarding contracts, then the same rule should apply in reverse, clubs should cancel contracts for players who take a dip in performance or get season long contacts.
Posted 13:50 10th July 2008
Glen Sheriffe (Middlesbrough fan) says...
Did he really say that??? Yet another reason why these suits should not be running a bath, never mind world football. To compare a footballers contract, which they agreed to, to slavery is totally disrespectful to all those people who have suffered over the years. If a footballers were allowed to leave at will this would allow a players, who might want to leave their current club in a years time, to sign a new 4 year contract worth X amount more a week and still go a year later before their previous deal would have run out. Get these out of footballs driving seat and let people who know, played and care about the game control things.
Posted 13:49 10th July 2008