World Players' Union FIFPro Warns Players About Joining Clubs In Cyprus, Greece, Turkey

Professional footballers have been warned by the world players' union FIFPro "to think twice before signing to play for clubs in Cyprus, Greece or Turkey," according to Brian Homewood of REUTERS. Players were advised to be especially wary of clubs who were not playing in European competition, with FIFPro saying that "many of those teams have failed to keep their promises." In a statement, FIFPro said, "Cyprus has for years occupied the first position, by a wide margin, as regards the number of disputes submitted to FIFA's dispute resolution chamber (DRC), while Greece and Turkey are vying for second position. In all three countries, the number of disputes increases every year. The only exceptions are those clubs that play in European football: these accept the UEFA club licensing system, which reduces the risks." FIFPro said that players had trouble getting paid and were forced to take out legal proceedings at FIFA, "which could be drawn-out and expensive" (REUTERS, 8/21).