The Professional Footballers' Association have called for FIFA president Sepp Blatter to retract his claim of "modern slavery" in the game.Manchester United have also taken issue with Blatter after he declared Cristiano Ronaldo should be allowed to leave Old Trafford if he wants.
It is not the first time the FIFA president has made controversial comments - once famously claiming women footballers should wear more revealing kit in an attempt to attract more interest.
However, on this occasion, PFA chairman Chris Powell feels the Swiss chief has gone too far.
Veteran former Charlton and England defender Powell, 38, said: "His words have not gone down well with me.
"There are plenty of players, their families and supporters, people who love the game, who go and watch, spending their hard-earned money week in and week out who will not be happy with Sepp Blatter saying Cristiano Ronaldo is being treated like a slave. He is far from it."
Powell added on Sky Sports News: "I really hope Sepp will retract what he has said and that we can get on with resolving this saga because I am sure Manchester United want it to be.
"Ronaldo is not fit now with his injury and having his operation, but I really hope for our sake, and football's sake, that Ronaldo wears the red again of Manchester United again next season."
The FIFA president's remarks, in a Sky News interview, certainly surprised Champions League winners United.
When Blatter was asked if he felt sympathy for Ronaldo's current position, he said: "Absolutely, absolutely.
"Definitely as a footballer and the FIFA president, I'm very in sympathy with the player Ronaldo."
Blatter added: "I think in football there is too much modern slavery, transferring players or buying players here and there, and putting them somewhere. And we are trying now to intervene in such cases."
The Red Devils are adamant Ronaldo - PFA Player's Player of the Year in both the past two seasons - will not be leaving, even though the Portugal winger continues to send out mixed messages about his future.
Real Madrid have made no secret of their admiration for Ronaldo, who is currently recovering from ankle surgery after playing in Euro 2008.
A Manchester United spokesperson said: "All our players - like at other clubs - enter into their contracts after an open and free negotiation. Most of whom do after taking advice from a FIFA-registered agent.
"Many do so on a number of occasions and enjoy long and successful stays at Old Trafford."
UEFA, meanwhile, have warned that players are becoming ever more powerful as a consequence of the Bosman ruling - and played down Blatter's suggestions they are slaves to clubs.
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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Comment 1 - 13 of 13
powell, english a great language ,before you knock it learn to write it first please ,
i wonder if man u were chasing a real madrid player if patini or blatter would step in ? of course not these two fools hate english football , thats why we never get a look in to world cup being played here , we cant even get the clf played at wembley , the world cup in south africa ? as like when it was played in the usa ? these fools who run fifa have no respect for english football so until we get rid of the swiss cheese and the frog we have nothing going our way
The "slavery" of football contracts works to the players advantage all the time...
consider Louis Saha, who played in only 8 games because of injury problems,
yet during the whole season Man united were obligated to pay him his full salary,
even though he was rarely healthy enough to "go to work and do his job"....
do any of us regular folk get a regular full guaranteed salary for years at a time
while working only 8 weeks a year ?
Ronaldo is now off for up to 12 weeks with his ankle injury,
yet I don't hear him saying he will forego his 120,000 quid a week salary
until he is healthy enough to return to his "job"
well i do not know if blatter can read this or not.I know good leaders do not just take sides when trying to resolve a problem withen their control.taking sides shows clear weakness and favouritism.Remember ronaldo is only 23 but we keep treating him like a very matured man,the boy has heard so much about himself,people like scolari have put things in his head so much so that.He is speaking so badly about the people who have been around for him when people called him 'the fake ronaldo'.he scored 42 goals because UNITED gave him a chance, the players gave him a chance.I watched every UNITED game and noticed this without rooney ronaldo has a hard time fitting into the game.My point United should keep him,teach him alesson in the right way and sell him for more to madrid,after we have won the supercap,the community shield cap,the continental cap retained the premier leauge cap and the champions leauge cap thank you
Blatter are getting old. What on earth this words can he say? Why does any one complaning La Liga club eash time they link or creates story on Marca New paper?
Why always turn EPL Club as a victim?
it because epl club have more money than the Liga or Seria A club. No doubts.
How much does Real and Calderon pay blatter old man.
Glory glory Man utd. Damn
don't know if this Dean_ManUre is just anti Man U or just a plain stupid guy. He just post s a lot of rubbish comment with no sense at all
Blatter is probably on the RM payroll thus his input.He has ben under investigation for financial irregularities at FIFA for a number of years but changes rules to prevent access to records by investigating bodies. Premier clubs cannot pay him because accountancy requirements would expose the action thus he attacks anything that is successful & English to satisfy his paymasters abroad.
After All is said and done,,in this "Fergy-RONALDO" Saga..Sir Alex would be wise to Heed his "OWN" Mantra"Thinking..to a more Aptly and Updated Versionof: "No Club, IS BIGGER Then F.I.F.A.!)...and stick to it..cause enough "Irrepairable" Damage has already ensued from and resulted to BOTH PARTIES on a "WORK CONTRACT" Dispute!- Let the Lad GO, Sir Alex.! He has Given "Man.U" his Dues, 1000 FOLD!-RONALDO is not your "GOD" as you purportably assumed, BUT a " Football Genius"..and He Shouldnn't be STOPPED by Anyone, to LEAVE to where he feels, HE SHALL BE more Appreciated And LOVED!
Good LUCK RONALDO-London
I think Blatter needs to look up the word "contract" in the dictionary and plus as someone else has stated, Ronaldo hasn't even filed a transfer request(his get out of slavery free card)!!! Ronaldo is on lucrative contract earning £150000+ a week. Blatter there is no comparison to him being a "slave", yet another word you need to look up and stop trying to bring down the british game.
How much is Real Madrid and Calderon paying you?
Sepp Blatter should come out openly to tell us what he has against english football and engliah clubs..... old man i think you are going too far!!!!
Who let Sepp Blatter talk to the press without a minder? Yet again the man has put his foot in it. Maybe it is time to put someone who understands football in his place.
Sepp Blatter should mind his damn business; who is he to tell any football club how to deal with players on contract. He tells us that Utd must let Ronaldo go and that he supports the players position!!!!!! Let him now tell the managers and club owners just exactly what his understanding of a "Club/Player Contract" really means!!!
If we are to believe what he tells us, then basically, the contract system is a complete waste of time and totally useless
The man is an idiot and should be put out to pasture as his input is pathetic at best
A word for Chris Powell - I enjoyed watching you play football; i think i will enjoy your input in your new role; as individuals we are not i a position to attack the idiot, you can, so please do!!!! Thank you
MR MAN,THIS IS NOT ALL ABOUT WAR.HE CAN SAY WHAT HE WANT.IS A FREE WORLD.CLOSE YOUR MOUTH AND NEVER YOU THINK THAT THIS WORLD IS FOR THIS @#$% PEOPLE WHOM SPEAKS ENGLISH
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