Villa boss Martin O’Neill has become the latest name to hit out at FIFA president Sepp Blatter’s slavery comments.
Blatter’s views last week have drawn criticism from footballing legends Pele and Gordon Banks.
The comments also failed to impress O’Neill, who is resigned to the departure of Gareth Barry, despite the midfielder having two years remaining on his contract.
He said: “I think it was pretty poor fare really, because if the quotes attributed to Blatter were that Ronaldo should be allowed to leave if he wants to, well it’s quite incredible really.
“So a contract’s not worth anything? Well, we kind of know that anyway in a sort of cynical manner.
“I’ve never seen too many players coming in with serious injuries and facing a long lay-off and saying:
‘I know, I think that because I won’t be playing any football now for you for the foreseeable future, you should really tear my contract up and not pay me until I get fit again’.
“So it’s an amazing comment coming from Mr Blatter, really amazing. Despite what he says, contracts are there, they’re drawn up in the first place so that you hope people would abide by them.
“Yes this has got serious connotations. I must admit it’s a pretty bold statement.
“One that wouldn’t have gone down too well certainly at club level, where you are trying to hold on to your players.”
2 Comments
Blatter like Platini has no love for the English or the English League and acid comments about slavery is in fact, an insult to those who’s ancestors were were actually slaves, all they got for their efforts was beatings and starvation and for Ronaldo to agree just shows his immaturity.. Blatter and Platini are a disgrace, these people hold highly responsible positions in world football and should not only Not be making damaging comments, but also should not be interfering in matters other than that which concerns them. Man Utd and Ronaldo will deal with their business in house behind closed doors, it should not be a matter for FIFA or anyone else.
If they want to get involved in club transfer dealings, they should change the law by stopping clubs like Liverpool using underhanded tactics to unsettle players as they have done with Gareth Barry.
Until Benitez spoke to the press, Barry was quite happy at Villa, now Barry has been told to stay at home and Liverpool still haven’t come up with the money to buy him, so at the moment Barry is still getting paid but doing nothing for it….nobody wins.
Some excellent points Mr Aston, I now live in the USA and view from a far how people who hold such important roles continually put the game into shame with such an unprofessional approach, diplomacy seems to go out of the window when Blatter is involved. Yet the European game needs English teams more than we need Europe. As for Platini - French arrogance and ignorance a plenty me thinks. Its time the Fa spoke up, let’s just hope we continue to dominate on a domestic level, pity about our national side though.