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...
Ighalo Helps Shanghai Shenhua To Win Chinese FA...
Rooney Escapes Police Arrest For Breaking Lockdown Rules...
Mbappe Has All The Qualities To Be A...
El Kanemi trips Kano Pillars
Mikel backs Chelsea to win eighth FA Cup...
Relegation: Moyes quits as Sunderland manager
2026 WCQ playoffs: Osimhen to lead attack as Okoye returns for S’Eagles [Full List]
Boniface admits Eagles struggles
JUST IN: Okoye, Ejuke return as Eagles name 24-man play-off squad
Urhobo College wins 2025 Principals’ Cup
Olusosun made me who I am — Osimhen
Foden beats Osimhen to UCL award
Elegbeleye eyes more NPFL partnerships
Nnadozie gets FIFA Best Award nomination
Marinakis on trial in Athens over inciting gang violence
Osimhen scores hat-trick as Galatasary sink Ajax
Eighty-five changes in 16 games - is Chelsea system working after draw?
Yamal scores stunning goal as Barca draw thriller with Club Brugge
Most Read
Rangers International going, going . . . (63,300 views)
Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (54,511 views)
Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (52,459 views)
Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (52,089 views)
Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (52,084 views)
Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (52,012 views)
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (51,847 views)
NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (51,429 views)
Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (50,544 views)
Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (49,108 views)
Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (47,518 views)
John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (46,997 views)