Uefa counter Blatter slave claim

UEFA have warned that players are becoming ever more powerful as a consequence of the Bosman ruling - and played down Sepp Blatter's suggestions they are slaves to clubs.

FIFA president Blatter has claimed Cristiano Ronaldo should be allowed to leave Manchester United for Real Madrid if he wants, criticising a trend towards "modern slavery" in football.

But UEFA's communications director William Gaillard, who also serves as special advisor to UEFA president Michel Platini, gave a different point of view and claimed salaries are "spiralling out of control".

"It would be useful to remind people that slaves in all of the slavery systems never earned a wage," Gaillard told Sky Sports News.

The Bosman ruling came into effect in 1995, allowing players free transfers at the end of contracts, and those coming to the conclusion of their deals have become prey for other clubs.

"It seems that both clubs and players are trying to negotiate an exit before the player is free," said Gaillard.

"It is a consequence of the Bosman ruling - there is nothing we can do about that.

"It is obvious that today players have a lot more power than they did 20 years ago, undoubtedly, and agents have a lot more power than they did 20 years ago.

"It is true that salaries are spiralling out of control. Many clubs have pointed that out."