Some call it a contract, others call it slavery. Well at least that’s what FIFA president Sepp Blatter called it. Comparing the way that soccer players — with contracts that they have agreed to — are bought and sold on the transfer market to “modern slavery” might be the dumbest and most uninformed thing I’ve ever heard — or at least heard recently. Everyone on a professional team has signed a contract, it’s that simple. The two sides (team and player) agreed to binding document that had the player perform his services for the franchise in exchange for a (sometimes exuberant) pay cheque. And sometimes, during the offseason, a team may want to trade away a player (which often requires the player’s approval in soccer) for any number of reasons or the player could ask for a move. What is so slave-like about that?
Under Blatter’s view, a player would be able to come and go as he saw fit and could leave teams hanging on their decisions. Why should a player be able to terminate a contract when a team would have to buyout the remainder of the player’s side if they wanted to straight up get rid of him. It would be like the headline says, inmates would be running the asylum! Imagine in the NFL if, say, Ocho Cinco was upset in Cincy and wanted to leave for Dallas. According to Blatter, all Chad Johnson would have to do is pack his bags and give Jerry Jones a call. Boom, you’d have Tony Romo throwing to either No. 81 or No. 85 and the ‘Boys would the NFC favourites.
The fact that Cristiano Ronaldo agreed with Blatter makes the Portuguese star seem just as dumb and even more greedy than he already looks. It has been fairly clear for a while that he wants to leave Manchester United for Real Madrid, yet he is signed on with the Red Devils and why would they want to lose a dynamic young player like him? Even with all of the tampering and borderline collusion that Real has committed thus far in their attempts to land Ronaldo, nothing has come to fruition. Of course, the somewhat bitter Ronaldo would love to rectify this problem by simply walking away for Man U but alas, it’s not possible yet. He’s probably sitting at home — possibly with a hooker — and pouting about it right now.
Contracts are in place for a reason, no matter how much a whiny Portuguese player hates them. Buck up and learn to love British winter for at least one more time Cristiano and as for Sepp Blatter, between this slavery deal and the equally dumb 6+5 proposition, it might be time he takes a vacation away from soccer.
One must be judicious. But such an test has to be attack.