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Manchester: In the 18th century, slaves were transported in ships so tightly packed that dehydration, dysentery and scurvy led to the death of one in three.
Let us look at the definition of modern-day slavery.
This is defined as the submission to authority for the purpose of subsistence; contract slaves are described as generally poor, often illiterate, and people who are tricked into signing contracts they do not understand.
Signal the obligatory comment from Herr Sepp Blatter, the Fifa president.
Blatter has long been willing to pontificate on all things English, usually to interfere, or warn England that they risk censure for all manner of things.
Strangely, he shows no similar regard for other countries; Spain, for example.
While worthy European champions, they were lucky to be in the finals following the racist behaviour of their fans towards black players only a few years previously.
From Herr Blatter what did we hear on this? Platitudes, but no effective action; talk, talk, talk.
When questioned about Cristiano Ronaldo's apparent desire to break his contract with Manchester United, Blatter said: "The important thing is we should also protect the player.
"If the player wants to play somewhere else, then a solution should be found, because if he stays in a club where he does not feel comfortable, then it's not good for the player or the club.
"I'm always in favour of protecting the player and if the player, he wants to leave, let him leave. I think in football there's too much modern slavery in transferring players or buying players, and putting them somewhere.
"We are trying to intervene in such cases. The reaction to the Bosman law is to make long-lasting contracts in order to keep the players and then if he wants to leave, then there is only one solution, he has to pay his contract."
Herr Blatter must either have a tenuous grasp of history, or be unforgivably insensitive to use the word "slavery" in relation to the allegedly unfair treatment of Ronaldo.
The fact that Ronaldo has agreed with Blatter's words shows what a preening, pampered Portuguese pillock he is. None of the modern-day definitions of slavery apply.
I know not whether he is literate, or stupid, but he employs professionals to advise him and cannot be said not to have understood the legal obligations he undertook when his advisers negotiated a lucrative five-year contract with United, presumably with his full knowledge and permission.
As a trained lawyer, Blatter obviously has no problem saying the first thing that comes to mind to support his case, even if it appears contrary to what he has said previously.
He must think we are all thick and suffer from amnesia. Should such an important office as President of FIFA be held by a person who either does not understand, or does, but does not care, that the use of the word "slavery" is insulting to the memory of those who suffered, and those who continue to suffer because of that abhorrent system?
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