FIFA president Sepp Blatter has found himself in the eye of a storm after expressing his concerns about what he believes is a trend towards "modern slavery" in football.
Blatter cited the case of Cristiano Ronaldo and said he should be allowed to leave Manchester United if he wanted to.
United took issue with arguably the most powerful man in world football - but that was nothing compared to the wrath of the League Managers' Association.
They have accused Blatter of "being out of touch" and using "a poor choice of words".
The Professional Footballers Association, not to mention UEFA have also been perplexed by Blatter's comments in a Sky News interview.
LMA chief executive Richard Bevan told PA Sport: "Sepp Blatter's remarks are extremely ill-considered. There are no benefits to clubs or players in what he said.
"It just confirms he is out of touch with the issues of professional football.
"The transfer system is underwritten and regulated by FIFA. It is the cornerstone of developing talent right up the football pyramid.
"We also have the important issue of sanctity of contract. Ignoring the nonsensical comparison of a player on £120,000 a week to a modern slave, it is a very poor choice of words.
"Sanctity of contracts is fundamental to all commercial and employment relationships in that a contract freely entered into is honoured.
"In sport it is not always the case but Mr Blatter should know better."
The LMA fear there could be long-term global damage in Blatter's outburst.
Bevan said: "If you consider the potential consequences of what he advocates, McDonalds could walk away from their FIFA World Cup sponsorship and might want to play somewhere else."
United are adamant Ronaldo 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 the gifted international, who is currently recovering from ankle surgery after playing in Euro 2008.
A 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."
Bevan added: "Ronaldo freely contracted to become a Manchester United player over a period of time. He has become an asset of the club.
"It is a mutual benefit. The club are successful, he benefits from the profile of the overall team performance as it gives him the ability to enhance his reputation in the most high-profile league in the world.
"He is also highly rewarded. All of that is created and sustained by a contract."
The PFA believe Blatter's use of the word "slavery" is offensive.
Deputy chief executive Mick McGuire told Sky Sports News: "It is so inappropriate that he loses any credibility in his argument.
"There are some words that should never be used in such a context. The word 'slavery' gets people wound up and destroys any argument that he has.
"I think he does it for effect. By focusing on the Ronaldo's future it creates the greatest interest.
"But I believe he does have a responsibility, considering his position, to look at things in a more measured and controlled way."
UEFA have played down Blatter's suggestions and communications director William Gaillard said: "It would be useful to remind people that slaves in all of the slavery systems never earned a wage.
"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."
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."
He 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."
More news from SportingLife.com
Comment 4 - 23 of 23
Too many foreigners in the English league, honesly its gone mad no wonder england dont have a decent goalkeeper and of all the footballing nations, England have an Italain manager dont get me wrong im not against a few players per team coming in from around the world but when you look at Arsenal or the other teams emmm i think there is something seriously wrong.
ur statement is as stupid as the 6+5 quota rule u want to implement. no body suppoorts u in anyway
Sack Blatter from the presidency of FIFA
Why not put Blatter, Platini, and Bernie Ecclestone all in the same room for a month, and just see if they can, between them, think of any other ways of trying to stop Englands success in the sporting world, and even ask them if Lampard is also being made a slave.
Blatter is an idiot and he keeps proving it! Six referees? Why not arrive into the 21st Century and whatch the Euro 2008?
im in total shock,how can that punk agree with such a offensive statement.he is a shame for footbal a shame for man u, and for portugal.stupid spoiled little brat.by the way maybe mister blatter should visit some of the sweatshops where nike and addidas and many more use inocent children into slave labour.thats slavery u dumb @#$%... he should be forced to resign .. im a big man u fan they should make that punk sit his a@# on the bench and only allow him to pplay the required games .
Guys! I agree with everyone but We need to forgive him since english is not his first language so I guess he has no clue of using "slavery" ward.
Blatter, just shut up!!
Every time you open your mouth, nothing good comes out. Jus keep making a fool out of urself. You already proven tht.
Goodness, I dont mind being a slave for 100,000 pounds a week!
Why blame Man U for holding to Ronaldo when they have every right to do so. Rememeber he signed a piece of paper called contract, bladder? Ronaldo cant even stay true to what he promised on tht paper!!
this is another scheme by blatter to ruin the top 4 in england but yet again he got hit hard for it. good job blatter, keep this up and u'll bcom the most hated FIFA president ever!!!!!!
B - Bigmouth
L - Lazy
A - @#$%
T - that
T - Talk
E - Empty
R - rubbish
This idiotic is not fit to sit on the chair, he is been paid for doing nothing and 0 contribution. Either he is just passing time or men of no principle. Man who do not honor his word even in black and white written instruction. So Ms Blattering better divorce this guy becos this moron does not honour anything.
Blatter? His name should be Bladder because that's what he sounds like when he opens his ignorant hole.And to mention the fact that no slave has ever signed a contract is a great point.However I think the worse treated slaves in history know a lot more about loyalty and a lot less about greed than Ronaldo does.What sort of values was he taught as a child.He is an arrogant, greedy, over-rated young man.When you have a job it is your choice to quit if you wish but when you sign "YOUR NAME" on a contract you are giving "YOUR WORD", a "PROMISE" to do your best to fullfill that contract.And I ask Ronaldo are you a man of your word or just a greedy little punk @#$%?
I am in total agreement here with my friend micpando (comment 1). There are no more words that can be used to rexplain his idea!!!
it's funny how sepp blatter and his cronnies have suddenly taken such an interest in english football and english clubs, since we have started to dominate europe. now that the precious spanish & italian clubs arent contesting the champions league he suddenly wants to bring in rules to stop english sides having as many overseas players as they want [under the pretence of worrying about the england team... yer right... he wasnt bothered about how well england performed on the international stage until two english teams contested the CL final ] he now wants to poke his snout into the man utd - ronaldo saga.... simply because it would be to the benefit of a spanish club... funny how he didnt voice these opinions in regards to gareth barry wanting to leave villa for liverpool.... and I wonder if he would want to get involved if it was chelsea trying to sign ronaldo instead of real madrid...
Blatter needs to be given 20 lashes. If he means players ignoring their contract is slavery that means a player can play the 38 games with the 20 different teams. Then why does fifa restrict the number of teams a player can play in a season. Grow up blatter I am so ashamed of you
Ochuko
Not sure he is a slave....Never seen a slave dive round every 2 mins then look like they are having a dump when they take a free kick! Are games better off without cheats like that...Rolling round on the floor then looking all puppy eyed at the ref when nothing go's his way...He's a one trick pony and good ridance!!
The guy's just made a fool of himself and FIFA as a whole.
Hell, if being a "slave" means getting paid £120k per week, playing for the current top club in world football and also playing in the strongest league in the world then I'll gladly abide! Where do I sign?!
Blatter is right. If I want to leave my job I will only have to give a month notice regardless of how much I am paid per month or year. Ronaldo cannot do so!! He will have to wait for 4 more years!!! I call that modern slavery! a slavery that comes with a salary (thus the adjective "modern").
Blatter should think before oponing his mouth , no wonder the (FIFA) didnt pay any attention to Man Utds complaint against Real over this affair. By the way slaves being paid 120.000 pounds a week isnt too bad eh?
Unfortunately FIFA is a monopoly, a dictatorship and the single-biggest obstacle to the evolution of the beautiful game. And Blatter embodies all that's wrong with this structure of the game. What an ignorant, arrogant @#$%. I couldn't agree more with the LMA chief: Blatter is so out of touch, but it's no surprise from a fat cat perched in his extravagant glass office collecting dividends from the remotest corners of this world. And it's not on the the Ronaldo saga where his judgement and fit is dubious. How do guys like this (and I could name quite a few peers - GW, etc) get to 'lead'?
Slavery is such a nasty, offensive word. Why in the world would he use it so bluntly, so casually? He must believe slavery is a common practice, and is okay with it. There needs to be a strong rally to stop the use of this word. And it can start with him stepping down immediately.
He said Real Madrid did nothing wrong in their courtship of Ronaldo when it was so clear that they did violate the rules. Caldron, Real's owner use the word "slavery" in the exact same context as Blatter did. They both are egregiously wrong. They both need to steep down, and we all need to strongly call for this. They are bias when it comes to Real Madrid. The head of FIFA has one rule for Real Madrid to follow, and everyone else in the world follows another rule. This is extreme bias, and Blatter has loss all credibility.
Please login to post a comment
Not already a Yahoo! user ? Sign up to get a free Yahoo! Account