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...
Palace fans protest over Conference League demotion
Sheffield United Zoom Into Top Six After Chelsea...
Madumere Hails Heartland On Victory Against Sunshine Stars...
Mendy Shines As Chelsea Go Top
BREAKING: Manchester United confirm Jose Mourinho as new...
Federer Out Of Tennis Until 2021 After Knee...

Gala fans to honour Osimhen’s late mother
Eagles to play Iran, Jordan in four-nation tourney
First Falcons call-up thrills Erhabor
Ekezie junior claims Defensive MVP award at All-Star camp
Niger-Delta Games: Sports, instrument of unity, empowerment — Tinubu
Draws hold as Niger Delta Games begin Friday
NFF to review Chelle’s $130k request, other demands
Usman to retire after becoming two-division champ
NPFL: Kwara United slams post-match violence after Rivers United clash
Widow, late Nigerian boxer’s family clash over estate
Falcons recall Okobi-Okeoghene, Monday for Cameroon friendlies
Lagos SWAN Chairman, Amb. Olatutu Oladunni, and EXCO Members Extend Ramadan and Lenten Greetings to Muslim and Christian Faithful Across Lagos
Rangers International going, going . . . (63,574 views)
Amaju Pinnick: A cat with nine lives (54,881 views)
Second Term: Amaju Pinnick, Other NFF Heavyweights Home to Roost •How Pinnick Broke the Jinx (52,789 views)
Current issues in Nigerian sports: Matters arising (52,427 views)
Sports Development: Zenith Bank on the zenith (52,338 views)
Missing $150,000 IAAF Grant: Solomon Dalung’s Hide and Seek game (52,259 views)
Gov. Abdullahi Ganduje’s solid footprints, commitment to sports development in Kano State (52,129 views)
NFF Presidency: Pinnick, Maigari, Ogunjobi, Okoye in Battle for Supremacy (51,675 views)
Olopade, BET9A wave of revolution in NNL (50,846 views)
Commonwealth Games 2018: Shame of Muhammadu Buhari, Solomon Dalung (49,376 views)
Ibrahimovic’s Man U exit: Whose decision is it? And in whose interest? (47,763 views)
John Mikel Obi: Segun Odegbami’s Outrageous Call! (47,233 views)