“SLAVE CLAUSE” IN CONTRACTS

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31306, 28 February 1967, Page 19

“SLAVE CLAUSE” IN CONTRACTS

(N.Z.P. A.-Reuter—Copyright) LONDON. An official of the International Football Federation has warned players of what he called “a slave clause” in contracts offered to footballers wishing to play in the National Professional Soccer League in the United States.

Dr. H. Kaeser, the secretary of the international federation, gave the warning at a committee meeting of the federation in London. “We want to safeguard players against practices which are not acceptable in association football,” he said. “I have got a copy of a contract being offered to players in he N.P.S.L. Clause nine of it gives the club power to sell or lease the player’s contract to any other club in the league. This might happen in other Ame-

rican sports, but it is not acceptable In football.” Sir Stanley Rous, the federation’s president, said: “We are telling national associations to ask their clubs to safeguard players who are approached b, organisations not in membership of F.1.F.A.”

Dr. Kaeser warned that though F.I.F.A. was so far taking no official action against players who have signed for N.P.S.L. clubs, some national associations would suspend such players. “Then, should such a player want to return to his own country, he could find himself banned from the game there.”