HONG KONG - Brazilian football legend Pele warned yesterday that soaring players' salaries and powerful agents who squeeze clubs for higher fees represent a "danger for the future" of the game.
The three-time World Cup winner bemoaned the number of players pocketing big salaries only to "disappear" after a short career, to reporters in Hong Kong.
"Players should never forget to play for the love of the game and team ... players love whoever pays a little bit more, that's the danger for football," he said, mock-kissing a badge on his blazer to illustrate his point.
"Sometimes I tease them (players) and say 'you get in one year what I would have to play 10 years to get'."
Decrying the role of agents in the modern game, the 70-year-old said: "They do not care if the player is good or not. They want to sell the player and get the money. That's the danger for the future of football."
Big salaries worry Pele
HONG KONG - Brazilian football legend Pele warned yesterday that soaring players' salaries and powerful agents who squeeze clubs for higher fees represent a "danger for the future" of the game.
The three-time World Cup winner bemoaned the number of players pocketing big salaries only to "disappear" after a short career, to reporters in Hong Kong.
"Players should never forget to play for the love of the game and team ... players love whoever pays a little bit more, that's the danger for football," he said, mock-kissing a badge on his blazer to illustrate his point.
"Sometimes I tease them (players) and say 'you get in one year what I would have to play 10 years to get'."
Decrying the role of agents in the modern game, the 70-year-old said: "They do not care if the player is good or not. They want to sell the player and get the money. That's the danger for the future of football."