Players Threaten Strike

[supersjd]

Setubal players formalize threat not to play Benfica

LISBON, Dec 14 (Reuters) - The players of Portuguese Cup holders Vitoria Setubal formalized a strike threat on Wednesday, by issuing an early warning to authorities that they will not play Benfica next week if their back wages are not paid.

The head of Portugal's soccer players' union said that if the players do not receive their pay checks by next Tuesday they will not appear for the December 21 Portuguese premier league match against the Portuguese champions. If the strike goes ahead it would be a first for Portuguese soccer.

Setubal's players have not been paid since September by their cash-strapped club.

Under Portuguese law, striking workers must first give an early warning of a strike in order to legally walk out.

According to sport daily Record the club owes the players a total of 370,000 euros.

If Setubal do not turn up for the game, under Portuguese soccer rules the side will be punished with an automatic 3-0 defeat and a fine of 10,000 euros.

The club's directors are planning an extraordinary meeting on Thursday to consider the crisis.

Many cash-strapped clubs in both the first and second divisions are facing financial difficulties in Portugal.

Despite the off-field problems, Setubal beat Belenenses 1-0 at home on Monday for their fifth straight win, lifting them to third in the table, just two points behind leaders Porto.

[Lusitânia Power]

Hello about this subject I got some things to say:

1.It's incredible how Vitória de Setúbal is doing a great season even with the players that don't receive their payments since September...the chairman Chumbita Nunes should resign of his place or else Setúbal is going down, well in their finances. I also like to say that the coach, Norton de Matos got all my respect, it is incrdible how he can motivate and train the players under this conditions...and he been holding the players all this time to wait or else they would do a strike or even left the club...

2.Many clubs are passing through difficult times,someday we all gonna see many of them closing their doors, due to same reason that Setúbal, and then how is going to like to be?? less teams in the 2nd and 3rd division calling teams from the districtals to play in the national divisions?? Reduce all the divisions to 12 or 10 teams, just because they got the finances in order?(in the middle of all this, I don't know how is going to be with the club of my city, Grupo Desportivo de Peniche that it is in the 3rd Division).

3.What are the solutions for these and another problems of Portuguese soccer that I didn't mentioned here?? I got to say I see in the cable, the RTPN channel, in the show "Trio de Ataque" the comments aobut this situations and some of the solutions that they give are pretty good, but I don't what to say...so I want beg to our government, to the Portuguese Football Association (FPF) and to the Professional League this: talk, discuss and makes laws to improve the Portuguese soccer and putt him in a good level or else we are screwed

PORTUGAL IS MY LOVE

[supersjd]

Originally Posted by Lusitânia Power

1.It's incredible how Vitória de Setúbal is doing a great season even with the players that don't receive their payments since September...the chairman Chumbita Nunes should resign of his place or else Setúbal is going down, well in their finances. I also like to say that the coach, Norton de Matos got all my respect, it is incrdible how he can motivate and train the players under this conditions...and he been holding the players all this time to wait or else they would do a strike or even left the club...

2.Many clubs are passing through difficult times,someday we all gonna see many of them closing their doors, due to same reason that Setúbal, and then how is going to like to be?? less teams in the 2nd and 3rd division calling teams from the districtals to play in the national divisions?? Reduce all the divisions to 12 or 10 teams, just because they got the finances in order?(in the middle of all this, I don't know how is going to be with the club of my city, Grupo Desportivo de Peniche that it is in the 3rd Division).

3.What are the solutions for these and another problems of Portuguese soccer that I didn't mentioned here?? I got to say I see in the cable, the RTPN channel, in the show "Trio de Ataque" the comments aobut this situations and some of the solutions that they give are pretty good, but I don't what to say...so I want beg to our government, to the Portuguese Football Association (FPF) and to the Professional League this: talk, discuss and makes laws to improve the Portuguese soccer and putt him in a good level or else we are screwed

very well put lusitania. this is a very serious situation for portuguese soccer and they better do something about it. they need help now or else things are going to get very ugly.

[Lusitânia Power]

Thanks supersjd, it's just that I like football including the amateur football, and I would like that my city's team could continue to play, with others... but you know what I mean.

[supersjd]

Update :

Cash-strapped Setubal names Sousa coach and pays players

LISBON, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Cash-strapped Vitoria Setubal named Helio Sousa as coach on Monday and said it had come up with money to pay their players, who had threatened to strike.

Former Setubal defender Sousa replaced Norton de Matos, who resigned on Sunday, club president Chumbita Nunes told reporters.

Matos had said his decision to quit the club, which is third in the Portuguese Premier League, was a gesture of solidarity with the players, who had not been paid since August.

They issued a warning they would not play against Benfica on Wednesday if they did not receive the wages.

Nunes said in a news conference the club's players had been paid their salaries in arrears.

"The players will play against Benfica," said Nunes, adding that the players had been informed their salaries were in the bank. He did not say how many months arrears were paid.

According to local media reports, the players were owed a total of 370,000 euros ($442,900) by the Portuguese Cup holders.

Setubal were beaten 1-0 at Maritimo on Saturday.

- - - seems like everything is resolved. good to see this didn't get too nasty.

[supersjd]

Five players quit Setubal because of salary arrears

LISBON, Dec 20 (Reuters) - Five players have rescinded their contracts with Vitoria Setubal because of salary arrears, Portugal's footballers' association said on Tuesday.

The club says it had come up with the money to pay two months' arrears to all their players who had warned they would not play against Benfica on Wednesday if they did not receive the wages on Tuesday, the association said on its website.

The five players who refused the club's cheques are defender Jose Fonte, French midfielders Mamadou Diakite and Siramana Dembele, Benin winger Oumar Tchomogo and French goalkeeper Farnolle Fabien, it said.

According to media reports Dembele has signed a contract with Standard Liege.

Setubal named former club defender Helio Sousa as coach on Monday to replace Norton de Matos, who resigned on Sunday.

Matos said his decision to quit the club, which are third in the Premier League, was a gesture of solidarity with the players who had not been paid since August.

[Lusitânia Power]

this is getting worse...Norton de Matos has somehow resigned the team, a decision that I was expecting a long time ago, and now this, I only hope that Setúbal comes with determination to win Benfica, and not thinking in other things, so the people can say, if Benfica wins hardly that Setúbal is still in good shape inside the field...

RED-CARD FOR CHUMBITA NUNES

[baia99]

Something here stinks! According to the team, they're now up-to-date with all of their payments! But still five players decide to recind before the game with Benfica? This is in ideal game to show their quality if they're looking for new clubs!

[supersjd]

Originally Posted by baia99

Something here stinks! According to the team, they're now up-to-date with all of their payments! But still five players decide to recind before the game with Benfica? This is in ideal game to show their quality if they're looking for new clubs!

you're right this is just stupid.