,
Blatter's words - about GBP120,000-a-week Cristiano Ronaldo, of all
people - were quickly dismissed by, among others, Uefa communications
director William Gaillard, who pointed out that "it would be useful
to remind people that slaves in all of the slavery systems never
earned a wage".
Manchester United were also quick to wade in, saying: "All our players
- like at other clubs - enter into their contracts after an open and
free negotiation; most of whom do so 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."
As others have noted, Blatter's statement that "I'm always in favour
of protecting the player, and if the player wants to leave, let him
leave", directly contradicts the comments he made earlier this year,
(
http://guardian.chtah.com/a/tBIdjETAY30QpAe9jDFAoq7X06U/fvr21
) when he insisted that players' failure to honour contracts would
destroy football. It also ignores the real slavery in football - not
the likes of Ronaldo being able to come and go when they please, but
vulnerable aspiring professionals, often in their early teens, being
trafficked across the world (
http://guardian.chtah.com/a/tBIdjETAY30QpAe9jDFAoq7X06U/fvr22 )
with little salary and no safety net.