In debt !
(Baonghean)In recent days, the announcement of the highest Tet bonus reaching a record 700 million VND has not only caused a stir among office workers but has also become a hot topic of discussion everywhere, from government officials and factory workers to freelancers who never receive Tet bonuses.
Some people are happy because they will receive a big bonus, while others are worried because this year the economy is in crisis, businesses and agencies are struggling, salaries are still owed, let alone Tet bonuses.
Speaking of football, this past week saw some interesting news related to debt. Player Kesley threatened to sue XMXT. Saigon FC at FIFA if the matter wasn't resolved fairly. The Brazilian-born player claimed the club owed him a salary for the 2012 season. His legitimate demand forced the club to pay him $21,000, including one month's salary, airfare, and bonuses for the past season. In its short history in the V.League, the team owned by Mr. Thuy has produced many ridiculous stories, from name changes to player transfers, as well as issues with unpaid salaries and bonuses.
The truth and falsehood of Kesley's story are clear. He is a professional player who has played in Vietnam for many years; his skills are undeniable. More importantly, this naturalized player understands the inner workings of V.League teams very well. Kesley's request for the club to pay the outstanding debt is perfectly legitimate, and there is nothing "incomprehensible" about it, as explained by Mr. Tran Tien Dai, CEO of XMXT. Saigon FC, in the press. Mr. Dai's explanation for the debt to the player is very difficult to accept: "The club's accounting department made a slight error in handling the books…". Remember, earlier this week, Chairman Thuy had to spend a large sum of money to pay salaries after nearly six months of unpaid wages to the players.
It's not a big deal, but the benefit for the players from this is significant. From now on, more people will be confident in defending their rights. I say confident because few Vietnamese players have personal representatives or lawyers to represent them, and even if they do sue, they'll likely end up losing out.
In top football leagues around the world, associations are established to protect the legitimate rights of players. If an owner owes salaries or bonuses, players go on strike en masse, not just threaten to strike. Therefore, along with reforms and changes from the federation and clubs themselves, it is essential to have organizations to protect players, so that minor issues like unpaid bonuses and salaries for Vietnamese players will no longer reach FIFA's attention.
I'm really looking forward to it!
Trong Hai
