Sepp Blatter - Complete Idiot?

[Leachie]

I think when Footballers start comparing themselves to everyday folk that's where the trouble starts. They aren't every day folk because their lifestyle is a world apart from us. Should they want freedom, they'd have to give up the luxury, they can't have both. And that's not just me being bitter. If players were free to move about willy-nilly I'd slash their wages by 95%. What is Ronaldo going to do when Man Utd 'release him' from his 'slavery'? Sign on with Real and 'suffer' there too.

I think you need to move away from the term "slavery" because that is clearly not the case. However, why can't we compare footballers to normal people? They are still people. There are people in the business world who earn just as much as footballers and have lavish lifestyles yet they can leave an emplyment contract with notice.

My point of view on a basic level is that footballers should just suck it up and be happy because I would love to be in their shoes - however I am just putting forward the point that you are taking away someone's freedom and right when you are forcing them to work somewhere against their will because of an employment contract they have signed.

 

[Dougal]

I think you need to move away from the term "slavery" because that is clearly not the case.

Slack Bladder started it :snooty:

However, why can't we compare footballers to normal people? They are still people. There are people in the business world who earn just as much as footballers and have lavish lifestyles yet they can leave an emplyment contract with notice.

My point of view on a basic level is that footballers should just suck it up and be happy because I would love to be in their shoes - however I am just putting forward the point that you are taking away someone's freedom and right when you are forcing them to work somewhere against their will because of an employment contract they have signed.

Clubs pay huge wages because they demand exclusivity. It's the nature of the beast of being a professional football and the benefits of the system far outweigh the 'problems'. Without rules and regulations there is chaos, we all work to them.

 

[SpurSince57]

'Slavery' is the term Blatter chose to bring into the argument, though.

Footballers know precisely what they're letting themselves in for when they sign contracts (and if they don't, their agents will make sure they do).

 

[Bromavinci]

Good compromise there Dougal;

give them the freedom to move wherever they want like the rest of us; they interview with a prospective employer because they want to work there and let them do that...BUT the salaries are a pittance compared to what they currently earn...

Its almost impossible to fathom that these guys earn soooo much money, I mean 140 grand a WEEK, a WEEK!!!!!

 

[Leachie]

Yup, Blatter did use the term slavery however I said in my original post it was ill advised (stupid).

You both make valid points and is a tricky, unique situation however, if Ronaldo is still playing at Man U next season (and Barry at Villa for that matter) then they are both being forced into working for someone they don't want to.

That is an infringement on human rights. One part of me says it is wrong. Another part says they should just be happy because of playing for a big club, big wages, etc etc.

 

[Leachie]

Good compromise there Dougal;

give them the freedom to move wherever they want like the rest of us; they interview with a prospective employer because they want to work there and let them do that...BUT the salaries are a pittance compared to what they currently earn...

Its almost impossible to fathom that these guys earn soooo much money, I mean 140 grand a WEEK, a WEEK!!!!!

True. Given the choice they would probably take the slavery. They don't have that choice though and my original point is still valid.

 

[MattyP]

But if, and its a big if, you take the money out of the equation...

If I sign a contract for an employer for 4 years and i want to leave before the end of that contract, dont I have any right to be able to that ? The employer forcing me to stay against my will is surely infringing on some basic Human Rights...

Obviously Footballer contracts are going to more complicated than that but isnt the principle still valid ??

So it must work both ways then.

If I sign a contract with my company for four years, and midway through the contract my company decides they want to get rid of me, they pay me my notice period and I leave.

The majority of footballers would not accept that situation, and yet they want it the other way round.

Besides, the transfer system would be in complete disarray if contracts were not honoured, and it is the transfer system that allows many lower league clubs to survive.

 

[Dougal]

Yup, Blatter did use the term slavery however I said in my original post it was ill advised (stupid).

You both make valid points and is a tricky, unique situation however, if Ronaldo is still playing at Man U next season (and Barry at Villa for that matter) then they are both being forced into working for someone they don't want to.

That is an infringement on human rights. One part of me says it is wrong. Another part says they should just be happy because of playing for a big club, big wages, etc etc.

They were both happy enough where they were until they spotted another pot of gold. You can't have this discussion without including the greed. They can quit their jobs, settle up with the clubs and be well off for the rest of their lives. Maybe players should think twice before signing the contracts but no-one signs it for them.

 

[Leachie]

They were both happy enough where they were until they spotted another pot of gold. You can't have this discussion without including the greed. They can quit their jobs, settle up with the clubs and be well off for the rest of their lives. Maybe players should think twice before signing the contracts but no-one signs it for them.

Not every player will move for greed though. So, I can't accept that part of your argument. Take Gareth Barry - while the cash will be a big motivator, playing at a higher level in a bigger club and Champion's League football is, I believe, the main reason for wanting the move.

Ashley Cole is a different story - that was pure greed. He just moved to a similar club for more cash. Barry may never get the chance to play for Liverpool again and is that really fair (I know he will more than likely end up there but Villa have the power to make it not happen)?

No-one signs the contract for them but they have little choice when it comes to the terms of the contract (with regards to movement) and they just have to sign if they want to be a pro footballer. You are right when you say the benefits outweigh the negatives though. I would sign that contract with no hesitation!

 

[Dougal]

And Ronaldo would sign it aswell if he was in our position. But he's looking at it from his own position and has lost all sense of perspective. That is why he is wrong and I am right

 

[KentuckyYid]

Footballers thesedays are a business and should be run as such. If a business is not prepared to see out a contract they don't sign it right? There should be penalties for breaking a contract just like there is in any other business.

 

[Dougal]

There should be penalties for breaking a contract just like there is in any other business.

After missing penalties in the Semi and Final of the Champions League I doubt Ronaldo would agree to this either! :lol:

 

[michaelden]

Whenever I think of Sepp all I can say is ****. He is a stupid ****. An opinionated **** and a **** that is more wrong than an Arsenal fan thinking his team belongs north of the river.

 

[Phantom]

True. Given the choice they would probably take the slavery. They don't have that choice though and my original point is still valid.

They have a choice to not sign long term contracts.

 

[Krafty]

Exactly. You sign a ten year contract, why shouldnt the club keep you for ten years?

 

[Dillspur]

Firstly if Ronald wants to leave he'll leave simple as that, Man U are not going to keep an unhappy player and they certainly are not going to let him rot in the reserves and have him leave on a free once his contract is up!

maybe if his agent had any brains they would have had a minimum release clause in his contract!

In baseball they have a no trade clause so players have more choice about who they can be traded to, maybe something like that could work in football? Say Ronald signs a new contract and in it has a clause that says he is free to talk to clubs x,y and z if they put in an offer?

 

[chrissivad]

Pele has come out and said Ronaldo should stay.

He also talked about Blatter's slave comments, saying that they have contracts and get payed.

 

[michaelden]

http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/29512268

Sepp Blatter: Fifa president 'must go to restore credibility'

Fifa's credibility cannot be salvaged until Sepp Blatter leaves his role as president, according to a former member of the world governing body's independent governance committee.

Michael Hershman, an expert in transparency, told the BBC: "For the good of the sport Sepp Blatter should leave and let new blood come in.

"It needs a change of leadership. Any time an organisation has gone through years and years of scandal and it has a credibility problem, it's always best for the leaders to change."

Blatter, 78, has been president since 1998, and last month declared his intention to run for re-election, despite promises his current fourth term would be his last, something Hershman described as "unfortunate".

Sepp Blatter in focus
Born: 10 March 1936, Switzerland

Has a degree as Bachelor of Business Administration and Economics from the University of Lausanne

Played football in the Swiss amateur league

Fifa technical director 1975-1981 and general secretary 1981-1998

Was elected as the eighth Fifa president on 8 June, 1998

Read more via the link above

My opinion of Sepp isn't very high. I think he should be investigated and not in charge of FIFA at all

 

[SpursManChris]

@NickHSpurs why is there a question mark in your thread title? You know it's totally unnecessary don't you? Did you know you can edit thread titles?