Johannesburg – The South African Football Players Union on Wednesday called for a boycott of the premier soccer league (PSL) matches until there was a minimum wage in football.
“Cosatu must take a strong stance…boycott PSL games. There must be no one on the stands until there is pension and minimum wage in football,” said Hareaipha “Simba” Marumo, Sapfu president.
He was speaking during a debate on minimum wage at the Congress of South African Trade Unions’ (Cosatu) congress in Midrand in Johannesburg on Wednesday.
Marumo called on Cosatu to help the union to fight for professional football players to earn a living wage, saying football players were paid peanuts.
“Maybe you do not understand what we are going through…there is exploitation in the industry [football].”
He called on Cosatu leaders to meet with the South African Football Association (Safa) to resolve issues affecting football players.
The South African Football Players Union was formed in 1997, with the aim of defending the rights and interests of professional football players.
Marumo was the only delegate representing the football players’ union at the Cosatu elective congress.
African News Agency