Modern Slavery

I was pretty annoyed to see that Martin had already got around to blogging this but I was going to as well so here goes... Last week the following sports report appeared all over the world (source Sky Sports news):

"In an exclusive interview with Sky News, the Fifa president said the current post-Bosman practice of tying players to long contracts amounts to "modern slavery".

And the player himself - who says he wants a move to Real Madrid despite being under contract with United until 2012 - says he agrees with the comments.

His response came in an interview with Portuguese television.

Ronaldo told the station TVI: "I agree completely with the President of Fifa. Now I have to wait and see... but I do not know where I will begin the season."

United insists Ronaldo is not for sale, must stay to see out his contract and are expecting him to return to their Carrington training complex next week.

Since the landmark Bosman ruling, players are free to leave clubs when their deals are concluded.

But, says Blatter, that has inspired owners to tie footballers to long contracts so that the only way for them to leave is to pay up the remainder or get the buying club to do so.

He said: "I think in football there is too much modern slavery, transferring players or buying players here and there, and putting them somewhere. And we are trying now to intervene in such cases."

Asked if he felt sympathy for Ronaldo's current position, Blatter said: "Absolutely, absolutely".

He added: "Definitely as a footballer and the Fifa president, I'm very in sympathy with the player Ronaldo."

Sepp Blatter

Wow. I'm not quite sure words can express how deeply offensive I believe Blatter's comments to be. Lets take a look at some of the facts over at 'Stop the Traffik' which deals with REAL modern slavery:

• At least 12.3 million people are victims of forced labour worldwide. Of these 2.4 million are as a result of human trafficking. A global alliance against forced labor, International Labour Organisation, 2005
  
  
• 600,000-800,000 men, women and children trafficked across international borders each year. Approximately 80 per cent are women and girls. Up to 50% are minors. US Department of State Trafficking in Persons Report 2005
  
  
• An estimated 1.2 million children trafficked each year. UNICEF UK Child Trafficking Information sheet, January 2003
  
  
• The majority of trafficked victims arguably come from the poorest countries and poorest strata of the national population. A global alliance against forced labor, International Labour Organisation, 2005
  
  
• Trafficking is the fastest growing means by which people are caught in the trap of slavery. Anti-Slavery
  
  
• Human trafficking is the third largest source of income for organised crime, exceeded only by arms and drugs trafficking. UN office on drugs and crime
  
  
• It is the fastest growing form of international crime, already generating 7 billion dollars per year in criminal proceeds. There are even reports that some trafficking groups are switching their cargo from drugs to human beings, in a search of high profits at lower risk. UN office on drugs and crime
  
  
• People are trafficked into prostitution, begging, forced labour, military service, domestic service, forced illegal adoption, forced marriage etc.
  
  
• Types of recruitment; include abduction, false agreement with parents, sold by parents, runaways, travel with family, orphans sold from street or institutions.

Ok maybe I was wrong. Maybe Mr Blatter is indeed right. I guess that Ronaldo who earns 120k a week (around 5 million a year) and over 3 million a year in other endorsements and image rights is the equivalent of a modern slave. My heart breaks to see the torment he must be going through during these hard times. If only there were more stories and publicity to highlight his plight!
Disgusting...

Update: You can read Phil McNulty's good views on the BBC Sports page here