The flip side: Dozens of players… chasing Saudi Arabian teams for their wages!

THE Saudi Arabialike Qatar, of course, but also the United Arab Emirates, it’s something like that Promised Land for hundreds of footballers around the world, whether they are superstars, usually at the end of their careers, or lesser-known players, as the money is big. Too many.

Behind the gold, however, offered by Saudi Arabian clubs to attract footballers, there is also the other side of the coinwith dozens to… they chase their wagesin a country, which we sometimes forget how many rights are violated! This is exactly what is true in the country’s football.

She herself FIFAthrough its website, details a series of decisions by the Dispute Resolution Chamber and contract violations occur very often! Over 50 labor disputesinvolving Saudi Arabian clubs, have been heard within the last 12 months and, as recently as March 8, there was the case of Lewis Grabban and Al Ahli – one of four clubs acquired by Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF) this week. Graban, we remind you, is the former Nottingham Forest captain and decided to move to the Arab country after 17 years in the UK.

So the veteran saw his contract up is resolved from Al Ahli within three months of joining the team with one year contract, last August. Graban specifically stated that did not receive $400,000: 200,000 as remuneration when he was acquired last August and another 200,000 for two months of unpaid wages. When he formally asked for his money, informed that he remains free a fortnight later.

Grabban argued that he had been awarded damages totaling £2.2m and Al Ahli ultimately ordered to pay $500,000 in back wages in excess of $700,000 in damages for breach of contract. It was the fourth tribunal chaired by FIFA involving Al Ahli in 18 months and, as a result, the club was to “be punished with a ban on the transfer of new players for two full and consecutive seasons».

However, there wasn’t nothing rare in Graban’s case. Several players have seen wages not paid by Saudi clubs when injured and, at worst, they had dropped their contracts and held back visas! Even high profile clubs such as Ronaldo’s Al Nasr, have come to the fore for the same reasons. In November, they were ordered to pay $2.5 million to Brazilian midfielder Petros after they refused to compromise on the termswhich had been agreed upon, in his terminated contract.

All these issues did not go unnoticed. FIFPRO, the international association representing 65,000 footballers, warned last summer that its members they must not sign for clubs in Saudi Arabia. Recorded with repeat offenders such as Algeria, China, Romania and Turkey as countries to avoid, with “non-payment of wages” to be considered “recurring problem» in Saudi Arabia.

There is, however, something worse. There is no players’ association that represents footballers from Saudi Arabia and, therefore, there is no point of appeal for any local left without pay.