UEFA President Ceferin threatens players with salary cuts

UEFA President Aleksander Ceferin has responded to the reactions of players complaining about the congested match calendar. Ceferin issued a challenge, stating, "If we reduce the number of matches, we will have to reduce salaries as well."

"WE WILL HAVE TO REDUCE SALARIES"

In his statement, Ceferin said, "If we reduce the number of matches, we will have to reduce salaries as well. There is no other way. It is always easy to attack FIFA and UEFA, but the solution is simple. If you play less, you earn less. The ones who should be complaining are the factory workers who earn 1,000 euros a month."

"IT IS NOT JUST REAL MADRID THAT IS AFFECTED"

Continuing his remarks, the UEFA President said, "It is not just the top-tier players who are affected by the match calendar. For example, players from my country, Slovenia, play just as many matches as Real Madrid players, but they earn 500 times less. Reducing the number of matches would also decrease club revenues. We will need to sit down with the professional footballers' union and see what they want. If we reduce the number of matches, we will have to reduce salaries. There is no other solution."

ANCELOTTI TAKES PRECAUTIONS

Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti, in a statement made last April, had said, "They say I give the players too much time off, but we have only had 8 days off in the last 4 months. You have to accept that we play a match every 3 days. UEFA, FIFA, La Liga, nobody cares about the players. There are too many matches, something needs to change."

PLAYER REACTIONS: THEY ARE CONSIDERING A STRIKE

Kevin De Bruyne (Manchester City): In a statement made in recent weeks, he said, "Seasons are getting longer. Maybe this season will be normal, but in 2026, with the World Cup, the calendar will become even more complicated. Some player unions have tried to find solutions, but nothing has changed. UEFA and FIFA do not even care about this. They only care about money."

Alisson Becker (Liverpool): No one asks the players what they think about the intense schedule. We are truly tired of this situation.

Manuel Akanji (Manchester City): FIFA and UEFA are constantly increasing the match schedule. You need to think about the players too. We work hard, perhaps, but we are human beings too. We have lives. At this rate, I will retire from football at 30.

Rodri (Manchester City): We could go on strike. I think we are close to that. This is the general opinion of the players. If it continues like this, we will have no other choice. This is an issue that worries us. We are the ones suffering!

Dayot Upamecano (Bayern Munich): Why shouldn't we go on strike? Yes, that could happen. There are too many matches. I hope the authorities will understand us one day," he replied. Previously, apart from Rodri, another Spanish player, Aymeric Laporte, also said, "The schedule is very intense. We play too many matches. The only way to prevent this is by going on strike."

News Source: 12punto