Pele says modern footballers think too much about money

Pele has urged Fifa to introduce a salary cap for players and warned that the amount of money in the game could taint its image for future generations. The Brazilian legend, in Nigeria to promote Rio de Janeiro's bid to host the 2016 Olympic Games, said he was concerned about how the game had changed with the influx of money from billionaire owners. "My time was a little different - we did not have the big sponsors," Pele said. "Today they have big sponsors, big companies to support football. But in my point of view and the point of view of Fifa, these players' salaries must be controlled." Fifa President Sepp Blatter has spoken out about the huge sums of money in the game, echoing concerns from Europe's ruling body Uefa. However, Blatter also welcomed Cristiano Ronaldo's £80 million move from Manchester United to Real Madrid, saying it demonstrated the game's enduring popularity. Pele warned that football's image could be harmed if huge amounts of money continued to change hands in the sport. "You get a player today that they announce in Manchester United, Real Madrid or Milan or any other team, and they kiss their shirt," he said. "The next day, he goes to another team and he kisses that shirt. This, I think, is something we have to pay attention to for the next generation."

» More on this story... «

ITN | July 7, 2009

Tags:. .influx. .changed. .host. .pele. .salaries