Brazilian world-cup winner Pele has urged FIFA to introduce a salary cap, expressing fears that the amounts of money currently being spent could damage the game's image.
Speaking in Nigeria to promote Rio de Janeiro's bid to host the 2016 Olympic Games, Pele also bemoaned the lack of club loyalty, saying he felt that it could damage the way future generations look at football.
“My time was a little different – we did not have the big sponsors,” he said. “Today they have big sponsors, big companies to support football. But in my point of view and the point of view of FIFA, these [players' salaries] must be controlled," he said.
“You get a player today that they announce in Manchester United, Real Madrid or Milan or any other team, and they kiss their shirt. The next day, he goes to another team and he kisses that shirt. This, I think, is something we have to pay attention to for the next generation.”
Pele made the comments in the Nigerian capital of Abuja, as part of a delegation due to present a pitch to the International Olympic Committee. Rio is currently running against Chicago, Tokyo and Madrid with the winner set to be announced in October in Copenhagen.
