I SEE THERE'S TROUBLE ON THE WAY

Last updated : 25 March 2003 By Editor
Arsenal supreme David Dein has once more spoken out against
the amount of International matches played and the lack of
financial compensation given to the clubs:

"We pay the players. We are in command of the players'
salaries. They work for us first and foremost," said Dein.

"We're happy to release them, but under reasonable
circumstances. We're not saying we don't want our players
released for England friendlies. We are prepared to; we have
to.

"We know our responsibilities. But it's a question of
balance, what is right and what is wrong and the timing. I
think in the next 12 months we will see a total revolution
when it comes to the fixture calendar. There has to be.

"Otherwise the clubs will flex their muscles and say we're
not going to release our players."

He was speaking in a BBC1 documentary 'Football: Club or
Country?' which is to be screened tonight. He also
complained about the financial side of the international
game:

“There is a groundswell of discontent that we have to put a
stop to it, and we're getting to that point now.

"It is coming to a head because players are coming back from
international duty tired, quite apart from the fact that the
clubs do not get paid for their services when they are being
used by somebody else - which is fundamentally unpalatable.

"I think all national associations should contribute towards
the salaries of the players they are using from the clubs.

"Some of those associations don't have the money. Who's got
the money? FIFA or UEFA. The World Cup generates millions of
pounds every four years. A top slice should be garaged from
the top salaries, simple as that."

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