By Daily Sports on March 30, 2020
Alex Song has spoken for the first time after he and eight teammates were sacked by Swiss club FC Sion for refusing to take a pay cut following the outbreak of coronavirus.
Former Arsenal duo Song and Johan Djourou are among nine players to be sacked by Sion for refusing to take an unemployment settlement in light of the coronavirus.
The entire squad was contacted on WhatsApp by president Christian Constantin on Tuesday. Constantin’s message asked the players to take a “technical unemployment” deal which would see them receive a payment of around 9600 Swiss francs – an amount that is equivalent to 80% of the legal monthly salary in Switzerland.
Although many of the players refused or failed to reply, nine were subsequently let go - many of them on contracts that were due to expire at the end of June.
Defensive midfielder Song, 32, said he is prepared to go to FIFA and take legal action following his dismissal.
The former Barcelona player told RMC Sport: “We played a friendly on Friday (March 20) and we were supposed to meet with the president on Monday, then on Tuesday, he said. We had no news.
“We received a WhatsApp message on Tuesday afternoon to tell us that everyone had to sign a paper telling us that we were being lowered our wages, that we were going to be paid around 12,000 euros. We were to return the paper the next day at noon. We received this document without explanation.”
Song said he did not want to sign the document without knowing exactly what it implied.
He said: “I am a footballer, it is not my job. There are people to verify that. I couldn’t sign it, we didn’t have any discussions.
“All the clubs are talking today. Our captain didn’t know anything. We decided together not to sign this document. We wanted to talk.
“I did not make any professional misconduct. All the clubs talk to their players to find solutions. We do not understand what happened. No one can understand.” (Goal)
•PHOTO: Alex Song
Source Daily Sports
Posted March 30, 2020
You may also like...
Confed Cup: Akwa United in good start, secure...
Ngannou eyes Joshua, Fury clash on boxing debut...
Brown Ideye close in on Malaga move
Jose Peresie: Moonlight Tales According To Ibrahim Gusau...
Confederation Cup: Rivers United bounce back
UEFA Champions League Third Qualifying Round Draw
Organisers brace for National Schools Football tourney
Semi Final Teams Emerge As Coast Clear For Final Ceremony Of 7th U-13 JOF Kids Cup Tournament
Okoye keeps seventh clean sheet in Como draw
Nnadozie relishes FA Cup progress
Akpokona recovering well, doesn’t need assistance – Son
NOC Plans To Mark 2026 Olympic Day On June 27
Onojuvwevwo sets world lead as Ogundiran breaks NAIA record
Ethiopians sweep top spots in Yenagoa 10km race
Remo, 3SC rekindle South West derby in Ikenne
NPFL: Mbaoma chase Obaje, Arumala in Golden Boot race
Chelle keen on Kayode for AFCON 2027
Chukwueze among offensive duel leaders in EPL
Most Read
Rangers International going, going . . . (63,687 views)
Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (55,005 views)
Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (52,923 views)
Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (52,528 views)
Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (52,457 views)
Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (52,363 views)
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (52,220 views)
NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (51,767 views)
Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (50,952 views)
Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (49,461 views)
Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (47,865 views)
John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (47,339 views)