Former Socceroo Ned Zelic says the A-League side Western Sydney Wanderers players are “justified in asking for a greater share of Club World Cup prizemoney, but has questioned the timing of the discussions,” according to Lee Gaskin of THE AGE. Wanderers players are “angry at being offered” a 10% cut of the A$1.2M ($1M) the club would receive for a loss in its opening match of the prestigious tournament against Liga MX side Cruz Azul in Morocco on Saturday. The players insist their plan to boycott the event “isn't a bluff and are prepared to sit out in protest” at not receiving the same 50% cut they received when winning the Asian Champions League. Zelic said that “fine print should have been worked out before” the start of the A-League season to avoid any possible distractions. Zelic: "I really do think they deserve more, but it would have been fine if it was sorted out a few months ago" (THE AGE, 12/10). The AAP reported Wanderers players have received support from FIFA Secretary General Jerome Valcke, but “football’s governing body says it has no right to get involved in the club's pay dispute.” The controversy was raised with Valcke at the tournament's official opening press conference on Tuesday and, “while he chose his words carefully, the Frenchman appeared to side” with the players. Valcke said,"I would just say at the end, who are the ones? The ones of a team are the players. The ones on the pitch are the players." Despite his supportive words, Valcke said it was an issue "between the club and the players" (AAP, 12/10).
