Football finance expert Kieran Maguire has been speaking on the latest edition of The Price of Football podcast about Sheffield Wednesday’s wage situation.
Many of the Owls players have not received their wages, and it emerged earlier this week that if the delay goes on much longer, the contracted players are entitled to leave the club under FIFA rules.
Wednesday were relegated from the Championship on the last day of the season, and they have had wage problems earlier in the season, but it looks like the situation could get worse.
Maguire said: “It appears that some of the players have not been paid yet again. This is a recurring issue and under changes to FIFA’s rules, which I think came through in June 2018, if you are not paid in full for two consecutive months, then you can deem yourself to be a free agent, and you can walk away from the club with no arbitration; the club will not be able to get a transfer fee for you.
“So it is further embarrassment; Wednesday fans just want to forget about last season; they had a points deduction which ultimately resulted in their relegation at the expense of Derby County.
“Even if the players do walk away, the club would still be subject to sanctions by the Football Association according to what I’ve read on the FIFA website, potentially by the EFL as well.
“It’s a very sad state of affairs. The Sheffield Wednesday Supporters’ Trust has asked for clarity, has asked for the owner to come forward and explain what’s going on.
“All of these things are really frustrating because Sheffield Wednesday’s a grand football club.”
Do you think Wednesday will pay their players?
Yes, they have to
No, probably not
TIF Thoughts on this situation…
This is a total disaster for the Owls, and it has to be sorted out; otherwise, Wednesday could lose a huge chunk of their squad for absolutely nothing, which would leave them in an awful position before the start of next season.
However, it remains to be seen what happens with these wages. The club have to pay them, and they should be sorting that out ASAP, but given the off-field problems at the club, we wouldn’t be surprised if the players aren’t paid.
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