EX-ARSENAL ace Alex Song revealed he has ‘no idea’ why he was sacked by Swiss side Sion after refusing to take a pay-cut during the coronavirus crisis.
Song was one of nine players axed by the club after failing to accept a reduced salary from controversial Sion chairman Christian Constantin during the pandemic.
Alex Song and eight others failed to respond to a WhatsApp message about taking a pay cutCredit: Getty Images – Getty
The former Gunners midfielder is reportedly prepared to lobby FIFA and take legal action against the Swiss club after refusing to take a pay cut when the killer virus halted football across Europe.
⚠️ Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates
Song and eight other players, including another ex-Arsenal defender Johan Djourou, were fired after either failing to respond to a WhatsApp message to the squad from Constantin or refusing the offer.
Constantin wanted the players to take a ‘technical unemployment’ deal – a reduced payment of around £10,750 to help the club cope with the economic crisis after the devastating pandemic caused the season to be halted indefinitely.
The Swiss league was stopped on March 1 after the government banned gatherings of more than 1000 people.
Song, 32, has slammed Sion’s decision and warns the Swiss club that he is prepared to take legal action.
The former Cameroon international told RMC Sport: “My lawyer will take care of it, let’s go to FIFA. We will defend our rights.
“We played a friendly on Friday (March 20) and we were supposed to meet with the president on Monday, then on Tuesday, we had no news.
“We received a WhatsApp message on Tuesday afternoon to tell us that everyone had to sign a paper telling us that our wages were being lowered, that we were going to be paid around €12,000.
“We were to return the paper the next day at noon. We received this document without explanation.”
In Song’s version of events, he claims he didn’t fully understand the implications of the document sent on the WhatsApp group.
The former Barcelona midfielder added: “I am a footballer, it is not my job.
“There are people to verify that (the document). I couldn’t sign it, we didn’t have any discussions.
“All the clubs are talking today, our captain didn’t know anything. We decided together not to sign this document. We wanted to talk.
“I did not make any professional misconduct. All the clubs talk to their players to find solutions, we do not understand what happened. No one can understand.”
CORONAVIRUS CRISIS – BE IN THE KNOW
Get the latest coronavirus news, facts and figures from around the world – plus essential advice for you and your family.
To receive our Covid-19 newsletter in your inbox every tea time, sign up here.
To follow us on Facebook, simply ‘Like’ our Coronavirus page.
Former Newcastle loanee Seydou Doumbia and ex-Fulham and Nottingham Forest midfielder Pajtim Kasami are also among nine players let go by the Super League outfit, as well as Christian Zock, Ermir Lenjani, Xavier Kouassi, Birama Ndoye, and Mikael Facchinetti.
They have the backing of the Swiss Players’ Union, the SAFP, which has protested the axing and said the club was ‘unfair’.
A letter sent to Sion by the SAFP read: “You have terminated the employment contracts of the players without notice by letter dated 18 March, 2020.
“We hereby expressly protest against this termination without notice.
“We therefore expect you to withdraw these abusive terminations immediately and to enter into discussions on possible alternatives.”
Song arrived at Stade Tourbillon from Russian club Rubin Kazan on a free transfer in August 2018, featuring in 22 matches for the Swiss team.
They are eighth in the 10-team league and only four points clear of the drop zone with 13 games left to play.
Mikel Arteta urges nation to help NHS and stay at home after Arsenal boss was struck down with coronavirus
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
