Thursday, July 10, 2008

Is There No Cure for this Seppsis?

"Send this man off!"

Krill-eating Fifa president Sepp Blatter offered his token bloviation on the l'affair Cristiano Ronaldo yesterday and wouldn't you know it, he's sided with the old Generalissimo's favored side.

In an unsolicited, unnecessary, and wholly unnerving statement, Blatter compared football's transfer system to "modern slavery."

It's tempting to smack Sepp around for the base stupidity of such a remark, but there's more at stake here. Ronaldo's departure from United, should it go through, would set a potentially devestating precedent for the club game. No one put a gun to the lad's head when he signed his deal at Old Trafford and as such, no outside pressure should fall on United when the player starts begging for his "dream" departure.

Blatter's motives in pushing for this particular move are shady at best. His logic is downright porcine... get that next swig at the trough, all else be damned.

More on this traveshamockery after the jump.

According to the BBC, Ronaldo is currently in the midst of a deal that runs until 2012. It is a long deal, fashioned no doubt in the hopes of keeping twinkletoes from reaching the European equivalent of what Americans call "free agency" before his 27th birthday. The so-called "Bosman trasfer" rule allows players at the end of a contract to sign where they please.

Of the Bosman effect, Seppsis says:


"I think in football there's too much modern slavery in transferring players or buying players here and there, and putting them somewhere.

"We are trying now to intervene in such cases. The reaction to the Bosman law is to make long-lasting contracts in order to keep the players and then if he wants to leave, then there is only one solution, he has to pay his contract."


So to translate, Blatter is unhappy with the fact that teams are inclined to sign their players to longer contracts as a means of keeping them off the open market. He is beside himself that individuals choosing to break their deals are made to pay their way out of town. And finally, he believes that the stated "comfort" of a given athlete at a given club should influence whether or not he is made to honor his deal.

Now, I understand that football's attitudes toward player movement differs in a cultural sense from what we are accustomed to in the States. Players are generally allowed to pick and choose their fates. Rarely is a transfer made without all parties consenting to the terms. Compare that with Major League Baseball, where most guys could be shipped off to Kansas City and not have single word to say about it. Surely that is more akin to "slavery" than what goes on in football?

The trickle-down effect this fiasco could have on the lower level clubs, like the minnows at Norwich City, is equally disturbing. How will the these sides cope with their homegrown and budding young stars-- many of whom have been in their system since the age of 9(?)-- leaving for their own Tottenham Hotspur "dream moves?" If the be-all, end-all of all transfer rows is the boyhood jerk-fodder of the player, it is truly doomsday for the other 95 percent of clubs in England, The Continent, and the world.

Allow Bigus to lay it out, as only he can:

The shear stupidity of [the Baltter] comment astounds me. This fat sequacious douche bag should not be allowed near FIFA. The knock on effect of what he is suggesting would ruin the game and hand power to greedy overpaid footballers. The lower leagues would constantly be faced with players demanding moves and higher salaries.


Fin.

8 comments:

Bigus Dickus said...

How can you refer to the 16th biggest club in the country as minnows Likely...You are as bigger douche monkey as Blatter. By the way no one sees a move to Spurs as ' a dream' more of drug enduced black out.

The Likely Lad said...

oh, you noticed that reference, bigus?

The Fan's Attic said...

You know I signed a contract promising to repay my student loans, I don't really like this deal any more. I hope Blather will stand by me when I want to walk away from that contract.

BentPav said...

Spurs are much more a dream destination than Carrow Road and that drunk slut of a Chairwoman

Bigus Dickus said...

Oh Berba...You will be without a name very soon!

Email us at said...

Hold that Carling Cup high, Berba! It's the only trophy you'll ever see.

Goat said...

Blather seems to be suggesting something like a fantasy sports league with no keepers. Everyone's on a one year contract and the following year they go to the highest bidder. I can't see how that would fail. Although it has sown chaos on my fantasy teams. It used to be all about playing for Scribbleton Vindicators and the pride in putting on the uniform. Now it's all about the money and my fantasy fans are not happy about it. They just don't feel any connection to my fantasy players anymore.

Anonymous said...

When Gareth was in Villa's laaaaannnd...

Let my Barry goooooo...