Play back: A boy kicks a football in the DRC. The pay gap between professional players is getting wider. Photo: Therese Di Campo/Reuters
There is Cristiano Ronaldo and his millions and Gloire Mbidi and his handful of dollars — and the gap between football’s haves and have-nots is widening.
Ronaldo reportedly earns about $45 a minute just from his Real Madrid deal. Fellow striker Mbidi has no contract or salary from his Democratic Republic of Congo team AC Real de Kinshasa.
“I do get $25 for each match we win,” the 26-year-old said. “But if there is a draw or loss, I get nothing.”
Mbidi trains twice a day for the African side and gets about 79 American cents in travelling costs for each session.
“In 2008 and 2009 we were the champions, but still only got the $25, not a penny more,” he said.
FifPro, the international players’ union, said that Mbidi’s case is the rule more than the exception.
According to a study the union conducted of 14 000 players in 54 countries, 41% of football professionals do not get a salary and 45% earn less than $1 000 a month.
“The enormous salaries are a tiny minority,” said FifPro spokesperson Alex Duff. “Believing that most footballers live a life of luxury is like saying that most actors are Hollywood stars.”
Portuguese club Boavista made headlines in November after Nigerian international Michael Uchebo said he had not been paid for eight months because of a dispute with the club’s management.
“I have been dying in silence with no one to help me,” he declared at the time.
The 26-year-old striker made films of his attempts to get past club security guards to get into the Boavista gym.
Boavista did not comment on the case, but its president, Àlvaro Braga, accused Uchebo of not telling the truth and of having refused a proposed transfer.
The Nigerian finally agreed to end his contract with the Portuguese club in January. It was not revealed whether he had won any compensation.
In Venezuela, an economic crisis has devastated the football league, along with other industries. Players told FIFPro that they receive a salary of about $200 a month but prefer short-term contracts because of the hyperinflation that undermines any money they receive.
“After six months your salary is worth nothing. It is difficult to make ends meet,” said one player, named José.
In Argentina, football legend Diego Maradona slammed the country’s football authorities for a crisis in which players were not paid for months, a number of corruption scandals were uncovered and players went on strike for several days in protest.
In Africa, former Côte d’Ivoire star Didier Drogba sounded the alarm in defence of players “who have no status”.
One of the countries regularly singled out by FIFPro is Gabon, which the international union said is one of the most dangerous places to be a professional footballer.
Almost one player in four has suffered physical violence and a third have been threatened by supporters, according to FIFPro.
The union is also worried about countries in central and eastern Europe. Earlier this year, FIFPro warned players against signing for Serbian clubs.
Duff said players only get safe and guaranteed working conditions in a few countries in Europe and in North America.
But even in these countries, the players at risk struggle to pay the mortgage each month and feed their children. — AFP