We're supposed to feel sorry for Ronaldo?
July 11, 2008
As a huge information addict I surf countless websites ever day to satisfy my need for knowing what's happening in the world.
This includes many blogs in which the language is unmoderated and, at times, offensive.
Despite this I rarely take offence at what I see, hear or read online – you've got to have a thick skin, especially when you write a blog for Yahoo!Xtra given some of the comments I receive!
However, I believe FIFA President Sepp Blatter's description of Manchester United winger Christian Ronaldo as a "modern-day slave" because of the length of his contract to be one of the most offensive things I have read.
Perhaps Blatter isn't aware than many of the slaves weren't paid at the level Ronaldo is. In fact, slaves were never paid at all.
According to the UK's Telegraph website Ronaldo pulls in a cool £122,400 playing for Manchester United.
That equates, according to today's exchange rate, to a massive $318,942.22 New Zealand dollars per week.
Or perhaps Blatter isn't aware that many of the slaves didn't actually choose who or when or for how long they worked as they weren't free to do anything?
Ronaldo happily signed a new five-year contract in April 2007 ("I am delighted. I spoke with Sir Alex Ferguson about my future and everyone knew that I wanted to stay," he said.), earning him a huge salary increase.
Now the poor little bubba has decided he wants to pick up his footy and play for Real Madrid instead – and who runs to help but blow-hard Blatter, a man who minimises the suffering of millions of displaced, abused and unpaid people in one disgraceful comment.
It is sickening in a way which only a dozen bottles of Hoegaarden can usually bring (that's a story for another day, however).
Now here's something I never though I'd ever write: Good on Manchester United.
They've rightfully pointed out all their players sign the contracts of their own free will, and often with advice from FIFA registered agents.
They're not in the same position as you and me, where we can hand in our notice and head off to a new job in four weeks time – because that's not, and never has been, the basis of how football works.
Small clubs rely on the transfer fees of players under contract to survive and players being able to leave at the drop of a hat could force hundreds of them out of business.
And all because one whinging winger wants to put on a white shirt instead of a red one?
And as for you Ronaldo, cry me a river. Perhaps once you've grown up a little and accept the responsibility you gleefully took by signing a five-year contract then Manchester United will decide to accept Real's bid.
Until then, I hope you rot in the reserves and learns, as the football adage says, no man is bigger than the club.
This includes many blogs in which the language is unmoderated and, at times, offensive.
Despite this I rarely take offence at what I see, hear or read online – you've got to have a thick skin, especially when you write a blog for Yahoo!Xtra given some of the comments I receive!
However, I believe FIFA President Sepp Blatter's description of Manchester United winger Christian Ronaldo as a "modern-day slave" because of the length of his contract to be one of the most offensive things I have read.
Perhaps Blatter isn't aware than many of the slaves weren't paid at the level Ronaldo is. In fact, slaves were never paid at all.
According to the UK's Telegraph website Ronaldo pulls in a cool £122,400 playing for Manchester United.
That equates, according to today's exchange rate, to a massive $318,942.22 New Zealand dollars per week.
Or perhaps Blatter isn't aware that many of the slaves didn't actually choose who or when or for how long they worked as they weren't free to do anything?
Ronaldo happily signed a new five-year contract in April 2007 ("I am delighted. I spoke with Sir Alex Ferguson about my future and everyone knew that I wanted to stay," he said.), earning him a huge salary increase.
Now the poor little bubba has decided he wants to pick up his footy and play for Real Madrid instead – and who runs to help but blow-hard Blatter, a man who minimises the suffering of millions of displaced, abused and unpaid people in one disgraceful comment.
It is sickening in a way which only a dozen bottles of Hoegaarden can usually bring (that's a story for another day, however).
Now here's something I never though I'd ever write: Good on Manchester United.
They've rightfully pointed out all their players sign the contracts of their own free will, and often with advice from FIFA registered agents.
They're not in the same position as you and me, where we can hand in our notice and head off to a new job in four weeks time – because that's not, and never has been, the basis of how football works.
Small clubs rely on the transfer fees of players under contract to survive and players being able to leave at the drop of a hat could force hundreds of them out of business.
And all because one whinging winger wants to put on a white shirt instead of a red one?
And as for you Ronaldo, cry me a river. Perhaps once you've grown up a little and accept the responsibility you gleefully took by signing a five-year contract then Manchester United will decide to accept Real's bid.
Until then, I hope you rot in the reserves and learns, as the football adage says, no man is bigger than the club.
It's times like this you hope Ronaldo suffers a similar fate to Eduardo.
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