World Cup controversy
Source: Foto de Fauzan Saari en Unsplash
World Cup 2010: Iker Casillas defends Spain's £500,000 a man win bonus
• Spain players on €600,000 bonus to win World Cup
• European champions have largest financial incentive to win
The Spain captain, Iker Casillas, has hit back at criticism over the cash bonus each player will be paid if the European champions win the World Cup in South Africa.Reports in Spain suggest Casillas and his team-mates will each get €600,000 (almost £500,000) should they win Spain's first World Cup, the largest bonus among major contenders.
A spokeswoman for the Spanish football federation would not confirm the amount, which was negotiated with the federation by Casillas and his two vice-captains, Xavi and Carles Puyol.
"It's an issue that always comes up," Casillas said during preparations for Spain's final warm-up match against Poland in Murcia tomorrow.
"You can comment and talk, especially at this time when everyone is suffering," he added, referring to the economic crisis and soaring unemployment gripping Spain. "And I include myself in that because I have family and friends and cousins and they are also hurting because of the crisis. Everyone sees it one way, as they want, but you shouldn't mix one thing up with the other."
Marca reported last week that Spain's potential bonus is greater than the €510,000 (£420,000) each of the Argentina players would get for winning the trophy.
Other bonuses included €475,000 (£390,000) for England, €390,000 (£320,000) for France and €180,000 (£148,000) for Brazil, the paper said, without identifying the source of its information.
The Spain midfielder Andrés Iniesta was also asked about the bonus and praised his captain's stance.
"I think Iker answered very well," he said. "We don't like non-soccer issues much but there you go. Everyone has their point of view and some think it's good and some think it's bad.
"It's not something we can defend much, everyone is free to give an opinion."
Source: Guardian
What do you think of the controversy?
Do you think they will deserve the money if they win the World Cup?
Or do you think that they should be showing restraint?
Comments
Okay. As everyone has their point of view, my point of view is that the 600.000 bonus to win World Cup is not good or rather it´s a shame. Society should reward who contributes more to society like doctors, scientists, workers and so on, but footballers only give spectacle. Society should reward people who have done more effort like an astronaut, for instance. Society should pay more who risk more in their job. Instead of it, footballers enjoy at work, they do exercise, they have not risk, they don´t need especial preparation. Football doesn´t serve to improve the world. Countries propagandize with football, Olympic Games and so on.
Footballers who go to Russia are famous, they are rich men, in general, they live very well, while, other people are suffering and they almost can´t live. In my opinion, it´s unfair. Society should share wealth, feelings, goods and what was possible. You can think that it is an issue of envy, it´s possible but the 600.000 bonus is too much. What is more, they earn an important salary in his team because they are the best footballers. I wonder if they would share his bonus with footballers of the second category?
I don´t seem well that so many differences were among human beings.
See you.
I've had a brief look on the internet to see how much each Spanish player will be paid if they win this World Cup. Apparently, they will just get €125,000 plus a watch worth €90,000. I find this difficult to believe as they were given €600,000 for winning in 2010.
I think €600,000 is an outrageous figure especially when the people of Spain were suffering economically.
I am also interested to find out if players are paid for international matches and days training with the national team.
I can't find a clear answer. Again, apparently, they are paid though I don't know how much. It is said that the English players give the money to charity.
I wonder where the football federations get their money from.
Okay. As everyone has their point of view, my point of view is that the 600,000 bonus to win the World Cup is not right or rather, it´s shameful. Society should reward those who contribute more to society like / such as (= more FML) doctors, scientists, workers and so on, but footballers only provide a spectacle. Society should reward people who have made more effort like an astronaut, for instance. Society should pay more to those who run greater risks in their job.
Instead, footballers enjoy themselves at work, they do exercise, there is no risk, they don´t need special qualifications. Football doesn´t serve to improve the world. Countries propagandize with football, Olympic Games and so on.
Footballers who go to Russia are famous, they are rich men, in general, they live very well, while, other people are suffering and they almost can´t live. In my opinion, it´s unfair. Society should share wealth, feelings, goods and whatever possible. You can think that it is an issue of envy, it´s possible but the 600,000 bonus is too much. What is more, they earn an incredibly high salary in his team because they are the best footballers. I wonder if they would share their bonus with footballers of the second category?
It doesn´t seem right that there are so many differences among human beings.