By Andrew Warshaw
September 14 – Eastern European clubs are far behind their western counterparts when it comes to the way they treat footballers and the underhand methods that go into drawing up contracts, according to the head of the world players’ union FIFPro.
General secretary Theo van Seggelen says his organisation has “lost patience” with the way players’ rights are ignored and that something must be done with the 2018 World Cup in Russia only seven years away.
“It has to do with the mentality in these countries,” said the Dutchman.
“They still they think own the players and can do what they want.
“But they cannot keep telling us that in Eastern Europe everything is different and we have to accept that.
“They also play with 11 players, and have to follow the same rules.
“In seven years, we will have the World Cup in Russia.
“Several countries are EU members, others will join soon and we cannot longer accept that these players do not have any rights.
“We have lost our patience with them, the only thing we can do is show the world.
“We told [UEFA President] Michel Platini that we want to help improve the game but you cannot make a difference between Western and Eastern Europe.
“I have been to Bulgaria, Romania, Russia several times.
“I try to have a dialogue but every time I was on the plane [home] I thought…they treated me very well, they were polite and now they’re thinking, ok, he’s gone.
“That is frustrating for me, my staff and all the players we represent.”
“The contracts are often ridiculous.
“It’s quite usual to pay under the table.
“They say players don’t have to pay taxes but it is a ridiculous argument because if you have a contract with a minimum salary and the rest is under the table, you also have no security.”
Van Seggelen also said that the pressure on players to perform well was far too stringent.
“If a player is not performing well, they try to get rid of him,” he told Reuters.
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