Contracts in Football - Are they worth the paper they are written on?

Leanne Duckett explains to The Football Front the true value of contracts and whether they have real value.

The thing in football that baffles me most is ..... CONTRACTS!! Do they actually mean anything?

As an HR Advisor this may be a little surprising but it seems Football as a business is totally exempt from the normal everyday HR structure that other businesses run to.

Contract of Employment: "Oral or written, express or implied, agreement specifying terms and conditions under which a person consents to perform certain duties as directed and controlled by en employer in return for an agreed upon wage or salary. Whether stated or not, both the employee and the employer owe the duty of mutual confidence and trust, and to make only lawful and reasonable demands on each other. Every employee is under the obligation to carry out assigned duties, or the employers instructions to the best of their abilities. The employer is under the obligation to protect the employee from harm or injury." (www.businessdictionary.com, 2011)

By its very definition a contract is there to in-still "mutual confidence and trust" it seems ‘confidence’ and ‘trust’ are the missing elements in the Mancini -Tevez affair.


So, the key question is has Tevez breached his contract?

Well, he allegedly refused a request from his manager to play against Bayern Munich in the Champions League. Manchester City then suspended him for a maximum of two weeks, on full pay whilst they conducted an investigation into the incident. Tevez was then fined 4 weeks wages, close to a £1 million pounds, and was training with the youth team.

Some of the options available to City are, to retain Tevez's registration until 2014, leaving him unable to play any competitive football, except for Argentina, until the registration expires. Or, they can sell him, his former club, Corinthians are said to have expressed interest in taking him back for around £16-£18 million, almost a third of the £47 million City paid for him.

Man City Chairman, Sheikh Mansour however has stated no cut price deals will be made.

Indeed, there is a FIFA regulation where a player can terminate his contract if he feels he has sporting just cause:

"An established professional who has, in the course of the season, appeared in fewer than ten per cent of the official matches in which his club has been involved may terminate his contract prematurely on the ground of sporting just cause. Due consideration shall be given to the player’s circumstances in the appraisal of such cases. The existence of a sporting just cause shall be established on a case-by-case basis. In such a case, sporting sanctions shall not be imposed, though compensation may be payable. A professional may only terminate his contract on this basis in the 15 days following the last official match of the season of the club with which he is registered." (www.fifa.com)

This is not new territory that Tevez finds himself in. At the end of his time with Corinthians he refused to play, thus to push forward his transfer to West Ham United.

Carlos Tevez is well known for his sulking and petulance which is a massive shame, considering how talented he is.

Tevez did initially receiving the backing from the PFA in his claim against Mancini for defamation of character. But since he’s gone AWOL, presumably back to Argentina, this sour affair shows no signs of being settled this year.

Champions League club representatives have urged FIFA to take a tough stance against Carlos Tevez if his self-imposed exile from Manchester City leads to the end of his contract.

One club executive said: ‘If Tevez does get away with having his contract cancelled and then gets himself a lucrative deal elsewhere, what’s to stop others doing the same thing? We are all watching this situation very closely.’

As are we all!

This article was written by Leanne Duckett, you follow her on Twitter: @halftimejaffas .You can find her work on her blog here too -> http://halftimejaffacakes.blogspot.com/

Video: Mourinho's woeful acting + Tony Pulis on the Tevez saga

Our first video is Real Madrid boss Jose Mourinho doing an advert for Braun. Mourinho maybe a world class manager, but by no means in hell is he a good actor. Just take a look at his acting in this video. It's actually quite embarrassing!




Our final video is about Tony Pulis on the Tevez - Man City saga. As with most managers, Sky and the press have been asking various managers on their thoughts on the Tevez issue. But the brilliant Pulis, slams the question in an emphatic yet refreshing manner.

Harvey Burgess' All Star 5 aside Premier League team –Lord of the Rogerings’

For The Football Front's new feature of the ‘5 a side all star Premier League team.’ We have asked fans, bloggers and writers to talk us through their fantasy Premier League five aside teams. The teams can consist of Premier League starts from the past and present

This week’s team is called ‘Lord of the Rogerings’ by Harvey Burgess

Over to you Harvey,

Having played a lot of 5-a-side football myself, I know how many different ways you can set up a team. For my Premier League All Star 5-a-side I am going to use a diamond, which should bring a lot of goals to the side.

Goalkeeper- Pepe Reina (Liverpool)

Reina is, in my opinion, the best goalkeeper around in the Premier League today, and his distribution skills are amongst the best in world football. The main reason I have picked him is because he is so adept with his feet, sometimes acting like an old-fashioned sweeper at the back for Liverpool. He just pips Joe Hart and Petr Cech to make my side.

Defender - David Luiz (Chelsea)

Ferdinand is not a rock at the back like his partner centre-back Nemanja Vidic, but David Luiz plays like a libero, similar to Rio Ferdinand and Chris Smalling. His ability to bring the ball out of the back is why I have picked him, and he can score some crackers too. He used to play as a holding midfielder, so would be very used to this position, and his pace would be needed in 5-a-side football.

Right-sided midfielder - Carlos Tevez (Man City)

Although being a right –sided midfielder is not his normal position, but Tevez most definitely could fulfill this position. He was one of the leading scorers in the Premier League last season, so is clearly good enough attacking-wise, and he often played as a right-sided forward for Argentina in the Copa America and beforehand. One reason he has been picked is that he never stops running, and he hassles his opponents constantly. This is why he is so popular amongst the Manchester City fans (although maybe not for much longer). Theo Walcott just misses out.

Left-sided midfielder - Michael Essien (Chelsea)

Again I haven’t picked him in the position he plays for Chelsea, but as this is 5-a-side, the players will be constantly swapping positions so that is not much of a problem. Pace and power are two of Essien’s greatest attributes, so to is his ability to score some stunners (remember this one?). He just beats Gareth Bale to this position, mainly due to his tackling skills (and Bale is too attacking in my opinion, even though he used to be a left back).

Striker - Wayne Rooney (Man Utd)

It could only be him, couldn’t it? Out of all the strikers in the Premier League, I think Rooney is the most skilful and he has the ability to make chances for others, an attribute that is very useful in 5-a-side football. You don’t need an old-fashioned centre-forward in 5-a-side, rather a more complete player who can switch positions with ease. Dimitar Berbatov, Rooney’s fellow striker at Man Utd, is the one to miss out here, although he would be very useful with his skilful style of play.

You can follow Harvey on Twitter here: @harveyb1

Things you may like to read

Kevin Leonard’s All Star 5 aside Premier League team – The Usual Fullbacks

Everton – The Premier League's drought club?

The Tale of Five Expensive Strikers

Are some players given the captaincy for the wrong reasons?

To many people, the ideal captain is a charismatic leader on and off the pitch. A player who sets the standard. An individual who can bring the team together. And a player who is a role model on and off the pitch.

But it seems more often than not, that these imperative values which are a hallmark of a successful captain, are being overlooked by other factors.

A common occurrence is that players are given the captains armband in a vain attempt by the club to keep the player committed for a little longer.

One can think of many clubs who have adopted this strategy. Look at Carlos Tevez at Manchester City. Look at Abel Taarabt at Queens Park Rangers. And maybe more controversially, look at Cesc Fabregas at Arsenal.

A majority of football fans have questioned whether these players are suitable for the armband. The Manchester City striker Carlos Tevez, has been a hotly debated subject. Is he really a suitable individual for being a captain? Most think he isn’t. Carlos Tevez still hasn’t grasped the English language sufficiently. So this obviously hinders his influence on and off the pitch. As he cant get his message across to his fellow team mates. Perhaps a captain should clearly understand the language and can speak it sufficiently, so they can support and motivate their team mates.

Furthermore, with Tevez, it seems, from day one since he joined Manchester City. He has been unsettled and has been looking for a move elsewhere. Last season and the first half of this season, it seemed Tevez had his heart set on South America. Preferably Boca Juniors. However, now it seems the Argentine wants to move to Italy. This only emphasises the unsettled nature of Carlos Tevez. Surely, a captain should be an individual who stays loyal to the club, rather than angling for a move at every possible occasion. One must consider, captain Tevez even handed in a transfer request demanding to leave Manchester City earlier in the year. So much for the captains loyalty towards the cause.

Perhaps one would say, probably a Manchester City supporter that Tevez is a good captain. As he leads by example on the pitch. That is a fair point, too an extent. As Tevez has been the life beat of Manchester City in past two years. Everything centres around him. But Tevez has thrown strops on the pitch too. Earlier this season, Tevez threw a strop and showed his anger at being substituted. This is hardly the most suitable behaviour for your captain.

It seems Manchester City have made Carlos Tevez the captain as a method to keep the player contented and make him understand his importance to the team.

While Abel Taarabt, 21 of Q.P.R is another questionable captaincy appointment. The Moroccan international is a great player. But, he is a player who sadly, doesn’t like to pass and often has tantrums and disputes. Furthermore, the fact he is 21 and is the captain is alarming. Is it right a 21 year old is the captain of a Championship team? Perhaps it would be justified if the player had a better professional mentality. And didn’t clearly suggest that Q.P.R is a merely a stepping stone in his career.

A more controversial figure to question is Cesc Fabregas. Some argue, because of his experience and his professionalism on and off the pitch it makes him a good candidate for being the captain. However, there are serious question marks over Fabregas’ credentials as captain. Perhaps, Arsenal’s failings this season have made people ask more question of whether Fabregas is a good leader.

Football fans and especially Arsenal fans have a right to question him. The Arsenal players have lacked unity on the pitch. They team also does not seem to have any leadership on the pitch. The Gunners are missing a player who can settle the other players down and can support them. Just take the two Spurs results and the Newcastle results. For me, Fabregas may have the experience, talent and a nice personality. But he still isn’t captain material. He lacks the leadership mentality to galvanise his team mates.

However, the issue of giving the captaincy for the wrong reasons has been common for the past 10 years.

In 2003, Fernando Torres was made captain of Atletico Madrid. Torres at the time was only 19 years old. This was startling. It was startling simply because he was a teenager when he captained his side. Is that right? Surely a captain should be a player who has relative experience in the game. But of course, Torres is a world class striker, who At. Madrid were desperate to keep hold of. But is he captain material? When you think of Torres and the idea of him being captain it makes you chuckle. As today’s Torres is a bit of a stroppy striker who moaps around the pitch.

A common theme to all the players I have discussed, is that all these players have issues regarding their future. This emphasises the lengths some clubs will go to in order keep hold of their prized assets.

However, for all these examples discussed. One could easily argue that these players do lead by example on the pitch. As these players set the standard with their brilliant ability. However, the responsibly of being a captain extends to more than that.

It’s refreshing to know that in the Premier League and Europe that most players are given the captaincy for the right reasons. Take a look at Steven Gerrard, Carlos Puyol, Iker Cassias, Nemanja Vidic and perhaps even John Terry. All of these players are good examples of great captains and leaders.

But clubs are more desperate than ever to keep hold of their prized assets. A way in which the clubs feel they can cling onto these players is by giving the player the symbolic armband. And more clubs, be it small or large teams are now being tempted down this route, in a futile attempt maintain their star players.

It’s imperative that clubs try and avoid going down this route. Clubs must associate the captain’s armband with players who are the hallmark of a successful captain. Players who lead by example and represent the club superbly.

Certain clubs need to stop undermining the significant value of being the captain.

Things you may like to read

Why Arsenal's complacency and lack of professionalism has seriously hindered their chances this season - http://tiny.cc/y1tgc

Why Chelsea must drop Fernando Torres if they are to have any chance of success this season - http://tiny.cc/48chx

Just how good is Gary Cahill? - http://tiny.cc/q3lku