By Andrew Warshaw
August 22 – With the transfer window slamming shut on September 2, the international players’ union FIFPro is urging its members to look elsewhere rather than sign for teams in Greece, Turkey and Cyprus because of those countries’ poor record in honouring contracts.
Turkey in particular has become a hotbed for overseas players in recent years but FIFPro warns that clubs in three countries cited often pay salaries late, especially those who don’t feature in European competition.
“FIFPro wants to caution players and unions about the bad behaviour of clubs in Cyprus, Greece and Turkey,” said the Dutch-based organisation in a statement.
FIFPro says disputes between players and Cypriot clubs make up the most cases put before FIFA’s Dispute Resolution Chamber “by a wide margin”.
“Some players find themselves forced to abandon their homes because the club cannot or will not continue paying the rent,” the union says. “In all three countries, the number of disputes increases every year. FIFPro has found that many clubs don’t keep [their] promises.
“Generally, after a few months, the club turns out to be short of financial resources, so the player has to wait months to be paid his wages.
“He very often never collects. Some players find themselves forced to abandon their homes because the club cannot or will not continue paying the rent.”
Not surprisingly, FIFPro makes no mention of players also breaking contracts with their clubs but this, of course, is not their remit.
“Clubs do everything possible to win players over, offering them fabulous wages, a luxurious home, ambitious plans, a bonus for signing a contract, a bonus scheme or a percentage of a future transfer payment,” said FIFPro. “Unfortunately, FIFPro has found that many clubs don’t keep these promises.
“A player who has lost out is left with no other option but to start lengthy legal proceedings via the Dispute Resolution Chamber in order to get what is his by right: his wages. Sometimes this turns out to be impossible because the club has meanwhile declared itself bankrupt.”
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