The Uefa president Michel Platini has defended a proposed ban on third-party ownership of footballers – labeling the practice “shameful” and a form of “slavery”.
The agent Jorge Mendes, who includes Cristiano Ronaldo and José Mourinho among his clients, has claimed the ban is illegal and will kill competition in Europe. The Spanish and Portuguese leagues have also opposed the ban.
Third-party ownership is a practice which takes place in may countries, particularly in South America, where companies own the economic rights of players and benefit from their transfer fees. It has been banned in the Premier League since 2008.
Platini, who pushed Fifa to impose the ban, said it would stop huge sums of money disappearing from football.
“I have put a lot of pressure on Fifa to stop third-party ownership.” said Saint-Germain manager Laurent Blanc, Platini Speaking on a Uefa video forum in response to a question from the Paris.
“Today, it’s shameful to see some players with one of their arms belonging to one person, a leg belonging to a funds pension located who knows where, and a third person owning his foot.” He added.
Platini also said in the forum that the biggest misconception about him was that he alone took major decisions about football.
“I listen to everybody very carefully and I take my decision, when it is necessary to take a decision, always for the good of the game and for the good of football. Don’t think that I am very despotic.”
Fifa has promised to outlaw third-party ownership of players, but said it needed a transitional period to introduce the ban. The move came after a Guardian exposé on the practice.
AUTHOR: SANDRA OBIRI.