Comments on: Kenyon Wants Proper Enforcement of Player Contracts

By: Chubby

Chubby — Tue, 29 Jul 2008 15:09:18 +0000

While this whole situation is stinks, Kenyon forgot to mention smaller clubs that DO like to sell players under contracts, or even bigger clubs, that try and get rid of players for a big chunk of money instead of letting them go for free.
Of course they allow those players to “speak” with other teams, but rules were made to avoid them, aren’t they Peter?

By: Daryl

Daryl — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 19:37:29 +0000

Yeah, that’s true, there is a certain level of hypocrisy there. But I’d say most big clubs have been guilty of (and the victim of) that at some point, so there are no angels really.

By: john

john — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 19:15:36 +0000

Yeah, but… Peter Kenyon is Chelsea. And he says that players should be held to their contracts. And Chelsea are currently trying to publicly lure a contracted player. So…

Just being saucy though. Good post.

By: Daryl

Daryl — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 18:52:28 +0000

John,

The reason the Ronaldo saga is more appropriate is that it’s easily the most well known current example. Also, Robinho was perfectly happy until the whole Ronaldo thing unsettled him at Real, so it’s not really the same.

The big difference is that Robinho’s situation has changed, while Ronaldo has just had his head turned by what he sees as a bigger and better offer.

Also, the link to the Philippe Coutinho story John referenced about Inter signing a Brazilian teenager is here.

By: john

john — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 18:37:39 +0000

I know that you like picking on Madrid, Daryl (http://www.theoffside.com/world-football/real-madrid-are-taking-our-children.html), and I also know that it’s a new football blogging rule that Cristiano Ronaldo must be mentioned at least once in every post – but wouldn’t Chelsea’s hunt for Robinho have been a more appropriate reference here? The fact that days after Kenyon made the comment, Chelsea are fanning a cool 30 million pounds in Robinho’s direction, a week after said winger signed a five year contract with Madrid? I think that qualifies as pretty laughable hypocrisy, don’t you?

And by the way, Inter ended up stealing the child.

By: Matt

Matt — Mon, 28 Jul 2008 18:24:30 +0000

American-stlye free agency depends on some system of revenue sharing more thorough than those in place throughout European football leagues. At the very least, there is in place a committment to competitive balance or parity that allows smaller market clubs the resources to snare some free agents, although maybe not the highest price ones. And salary caps, hard or soft, enforce some market sensibility. Right now, I think an abrupt end to transfers would be a disaster. Maybe mandating a minimum release clause with some real bite to it could stem the tide.