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playPFA chief warns 'price to pay' for Bellingham & Saka if player burnout unchecked (0:57)PFA chief executive Maheta Molango warns that young England stars like Jude Bellingham and Bukayo Saka can't be expected to perform at their best with the demanding schedule
adding there will be a "price to pay" if football's schedule continues to intensify
And with high-profile players already talking about the prospect of strike action to resolve the matter
Molango said that "everything is possible because the future of football is at stake."
have both suffered season-ending ACL injuries since returning to club action this season
Molango told ESPN in August of his concerns over the increasing demands on players ahead of a club season that will not end until mid-July for those teams
who will compete in the inaugural FIFA Club World Cup next summer
And with the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) and world players' union FIFPRO awaiting the outcome of a legal case against FIFA over player workload
Molango has said that young players such as Bellingham
Saka and Foden could be forced to accept shorter careers unless a solution is found to reduce fixture demands
"Our view is that when you are fortunate enough to have in your ranks talents of the calibre of a Jude, of a Foden, a Declan Rice or a Saka
those guys need to be protected," Molango told ESPN
Jude play for a number of years and celebrate a title for this country
their ability to perform at the highest level will be hampered
"There is no secret recipe to be fit physically and mentally and if you keep playing back-to-back season with no rest
"We should all be careful of protecting those guys who are part of the heritage of English football
Maheta Molango has been chief executive of the Professional Footballers' Association since 2021. Steven Paston/PA Images via Getty Images"I think one of the big question marks is what would be the impact in the long run of that overload
Because we as a union also see the consequence of people when they retire in front of their body
"And I can tell you the number of people having hip replacement
What will happen to someone who plays consistently 60
70 games back-to-back in back-to-back seasons
Leading players including Rodri and Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker have spoken of the prospect of a players' strike if the game's authorities fail to act on their concerns over workload
four-week Club World Cup in the United States next summer has become a lightning rod for the fears of players and their unions and Molango said FIFA'S schedule for the tournament is "impossible" while warning that a strike cannot be ruled out
"There is an international window from the 4th of June to the 10th of June," Molango said
"So how you expect that to be four or five days before the start of the Club World Cup
play0:51Rodri: Players are close to strike over fixture increaseRodri believes players may have "no other option" but to strike over an increase of fixtures
"It's just impossible to make them [players] fit both in
I think sadly this year provides a good example as to how people only look at their own calendar in isolation and this is to detriment of the best [players]
but most important detriment of the show that we're seeing on the pitch
when someone repeatedly tries to have a voice at the table
then this generates frustration and I think it probably fuels the more extreme views
we are here to basically represent the players as best as we can
We are here to make sure that whatever they decide to do
they'll get the support of their union and we'll be there right behind them to try to make sure that they have the voice of the table and if this takes more radical action
"I think it's time for people to take those type of situations much more seriously because the future of football is at stake
"When people's frustrations reach a certain level and you see that it's start impacting your own career and your ability to do what you love the most
Maheta Molango, the CEO of the Professional Football Association (PFA), has called for a change to the Premier League’s “nonsensical” profitability and sustainability rules (PSR) as he believes players do not get a fair say in their futures
are thought to be close to the PSR ceiling
with the sales of players who have progressed through the club’s academies one method of making themselves compliant ahead of the June 30 deadline
sales of homegrown players are banked as ‘pure profit’ on the books in the current accounting period
while the cost of incoming transfers are often being spread out over several seasons
An agreement has been reached for Ian Maatsen to join Aston Villa from Chelsea for a fee north of £35million with Villa academy prospect Omari Kellyman a target to move the other way for £19m
Molango said the issue of transfers to meet PSR requirements highlighted the need for players “to be at the table and part of those discussions” as the rules “do not make sense” in practice
you end up selling an academy player?” Molango said. “It does not make sense for him
It doesn’t make sense for the club either because they are part of your identity
“You end up with nonsensical situations that meet the rules but are counterproductive for the players
because they want to see their academy players
Those are the ones who make you dream that create that bond with the club
And this is why the governance of football needs to change.”
Accounting periods typically run from July 1 to June 30 with any losses over the £105m limit leaving clubs vulnerable to punishment
Everton and Nottingham Forest were both hit with points deductions for PSR breaches in the 2023-24 season
(Steven Paston/PA Images via Getty Images)
the chief executive of the Professional Footballers’ Association
has described the loophole that encourages academy products to be sold by clubs in order to balance the books as “nonsensical” and called for a change to the Premier League’s profitability and sustainability rules (PSR)
With the sale of homegrown players counting as pure profit
several clubs have taken advantage of the opportunity to balance their books before the Premier League’s deadline for submitting their annual accounts on Sunday
Chelsea and Everton are among those thought to be close to exceeding the new PSR spending limits who have sold players from their academies in recent days
Ian Maatsen has joined Villa from Chelsea for around £35m
with Omari Kellyman expected to move in the other direction for £19m
Villa have also signed Lewis Dobbin from Everton
who has called on the Premier League to consider changing its rules because they are “counterproductive for the players”
He said: “It’s yet another good example of how players need to be at the table
otherwise you end up introducing rules which make sense in a nice office with air conditioning but in practice it doesn’t make any sense
“How can it make sense that due to the rules you end up selling an academy player
It doesn’t make sense for the club either because this is part of your identity
You end up with nonsensical situations that meet the rules but are counterproductive for the players
but also for the club and also for the fans
those are the ones who make you dream that create that bond with the club
This is why the governance of football needs to change.”
Molango has also called for more consultation regarding the Premier League’s plans to introduce “anchoring” – where clubs’ spending on wages
transfers and agents would be limited to a multiple of the television and prize money revenue earned by the league’s bottom club – next season
Manchester City and Manchester United are among those to have voted against the new rules
which are being debated by stakeholders at the Professional Football Negotiating and Consultative Committee
View image in fullscreenMaheta Molango says PSR is currently ‘counterproductive for the players
but also for the club and also for the fans’
Photograph: Khalid Bari/The PFA“There needs to be a consultation
Whether we all have the same concept of consultation I’m not sure,” he added
tweaking it a bit and having something a little less crazy but
once we have sufficient information we’ll assess and decide next steps.”
The Confederation of African Football confirmed that the next edition of the Africa Cup of Nations in Morocco will start in mid-December to accommodate the expanded Club World Cup and the new Champions League format
A former under-21 international for the Democratic Republic of Congo
Molango was heavily critical of the decision
which he believes could affect the chances of African players being signed by English clubs in the future
“I find it very disrespectful that it is always this competition that needs to give,” he said
“It’s not normal that a player in England needs to make a choice between the Christmas period
knowing that it’s important to him and that the consequence of not going to the national team has consequences for his family back home
Why should a player be put in that situation
And will it really hamper the chance of an African player to be hired by a club?”
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The PFA
the French UNFP union and the European division of world players’ union
submitted a claim against Fifa to the Brussels court of commerce this month that seeks to “challenge the structure of football’s broken calendar” after the details for next year’s Club World Cup were announced
Europe’s highest court will be asked to rule on whether or not the European Union’s Charter of Fundamental Rights – including Article 5 which prohibits slavery and forced labour – has been breached by football’s global governing body
“We’ve been clear on what our red lines are – we want to defend our domestic calendar which has not moved for the last 20 years
We see no reason why the domestic calendar should be affected,” said Molango
“If I asked you to continue working for two consecutive years without a break
I think that’s as close as it gets to forced labour
If anything it increases visibility and pressure to deliver when you’re not physically and mentally ready to do it.”
Chief Sports ReporterThursday September 12 2024
The TimesThe head of the players’ union has said the rash of injuries suffered by Premier League stars during the international break “comes as no surprise” due to the demands of the relentless fixture calendar
the chief executive of the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA)
said he was also worried about the long-term consequences of over-playing as well as short-term injury absences
Arsenal have concerns over two players, Martin Odegaard and Riccardo Calafiori
after they were injured playing for Norway and Italy respectively
Manchester City’s Nathan Aké was injured playing for the Netherlands while Tottenham Hotspur’s Yves Bissouma limped off during Mali’s match against Eswatini
Molango has been chief executive of the PFA for three yearsIAN TUTTLEThere is also a question mark over Aston Villa’s Ezri Konsa
who was forced off the field after an hour
with its sales division of OK Cars and OK Rent a Car vehicles
have renewed their collaboration with a new 10-year contract
have signed the new contract between the two entities at the headquarters of the car company.Maheta Molango wanted to thank OK Group's support: "Thank you for being in the complicated moments
" Molango considers OK an example to follow: "They grow every year more and they transmit enthusiasm to me
he believes that there is no dream that can not be fulfilled and he is hungry
Othman Ktiri has praised the existing harmony between OK Group and RCD Mallorca and its shareholders: "This agreement is motivated by the heart
we are very comfortable with the visibility of the club and I am very identified with the RCD Mallorca project
Sports values provide a competitive advantage in the business world
Marc Pedraza and Aridai Cabrera have accompanied Maheta Molango and have attended the media before the appointment on Sunday against the CD Mirandés of the first leg of the promotion playoff
It is a year ago this week that Maheta Molango was first chosen to become one of the most influential figures in English football
A lower-league journeyman turned employment lawyer
he was the man tasked with modernising the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA)
restoring relevance to a tired old institution
The job was a big one. For four decades, the PFA was seen as the personal fiefdom of Gordon Taylor, the long-serving and much-maligned chief executive. Its image was stained, a union out of touch with the players it was supposed to represent
a former PFA member after spells as a forward with Brighton & Hove Albion
knew all this when formally succeeding Taylor as CEO in June last year
“That’s why I’m here,” he tells The Athletic
there are times when the PFA had made its own life difficult.”
“Sometimes there were issues that could’ve been dealt with in another way
But the legacy overall is a very strong one
“A lot of stakeholders have found it very convenient for the PFA to have bad publicity
It’s very convenient to blame the PFA for everything
I’m sorry to tell them that this will stop now.”
Molango is in a punchy mood over lunch at a restaurant close to the PFA’s northern headquarters in central Manchester
There is little point pretending he inherited a perfectly-functioning
harmonious union after an independent review had highlighted otherwise ahead of his appointment
but Molango is a staunch advocate of its enduring value to more than 50,000 members
Not that he is entirely satisfied with the PFA’s position within English football
He has spent the last nine months visiting dressing rooms at all but three of the Premier League’s 20 clubs
canvassing opinions and listening to the concerns of players
“I believe the PFA can become the most influential stakeholder in this country,” he adds
“And considering that one third (of players) from the last European Championship play in this country
maybe one of the most influential worldwide
“This generation is different and football clubs and authorities need to understand that players aren’t down there
I’m really hopeful that we can be that valuable
“It’s time for football to put the power back into the hands of people who really love the game
“The players have earned the right for this
You speak to (Cesar) Azpilicueta and he’s smart
“They have demonstrated that they don’t just have a love of the game
Part of my role is to change that perception of players
“We also need to reposition the PFA for what it is
It’s there to support advice and guidance to professionals and give the dressing room a voice
We want an influence on the direction the game is taking
(And) That’s a complete change of approach
consistent support in what they want to do.”
Molango had swept into the Italian restaurant with apologies for being late
“I was born in Switzerland and a lot of people think I’m Swiss
I’m very proud of my origins but I’m not Swiss
though the latter originally hails from Congo in central Africa
before settling over the border in north-east Switzerland
“It was a small village and you’d have the cows behind my house
But my upbringing showed where you’re from is no barrier.”
Molango was never meant to be a footballer
had been the president of his local judo club and had a passion for martial arts
“She can barely understand the rules!” he laughs
“I’m an example of how your parents might want you to do one thing
A good friend of mine steered me towards football in our little village
“I played there and then moved on to the city
We won the Swiss championship at under-19 but I was still an amateur
He’d brought a Brazilian player to my club in Switzerland and at that time I’d started to play with the first team a little bit
“He came along to a training session and it went well
He came over and told me he wanted to take me to Spain and I thought he’d got the wrong person
A couple of weeks later he told me there was a chance to have a trial at Atletico Madrid.”
It was at that point that Molango and his father had a difference of opinion
I’d just done my studies and my dad was not very happy about me going there
“Being a pro sportsman was not a source of pride to them
My dad is a traditional African father and the message at home was always that you had to be better than the rest but better based on your brain
but studying was the only way forward in life
“That’s what brought him from Africa to Europe and got him a better opportunity in life
he did so armed with his father’s principles
Studies were continued at the Charles III University of Madrid
following a fast-track course in Spanish after an initial trial period with Atletico ended with the reward of a two-year professional contract
where Molango famously scored just 12 seconds into his debut
but all the while he worked towards a degree in political science
I would study on my own and travel for the exams
There was no space to study so I’d be in the toilet flicking through books on my lap
I was on the bus reading law books when my team-mates were playing poker
‘What is this guy doing?’ Having other things always made sense to me
I wasn’t carrying all the eggs in one basket.”
Oldham and Wrexham but by the age of 25 he had made the decision to retire
“Football is not about talent alone,” he says
with Molango specialising in employment law and sports law after obtaining his Master’s degree from the Washington College of Law in the US capital
He had negotiated his own contracts as a player and then
played an advisory role in Mesut Ozil’s move from Real Madrid to Arsenal in 2013 and Toby Alderweireld’s transfer from his old club Atletico to Tottenham two years later
Then came a return to football’s front line in 2016 when he was appointed chief executive of Real Mallorca. Back-to-back promotions were overseen as a return to La Liga was secured before Molango was sacked in February 2020 by the club’s American owners. The rise and fall is captured in the Amazon documentary series Six Dreams, with Molango among the protagonists
Those varied experiences as a player, administrator and chief executive are what appealed to the PFA, who favoured Molango ahead of more recognised names last spring, including former PFA chairman Ben Purkiss, and ex-players Jon Walters, Paul Elliott and now-lawyer Gareth Farrelly
“Time will tell if I was the right appointment or not
“This is an institution with 55,000 members and it needs someone to take on that responsibility
“It needs more than someone who has just played games
“Hopefully I will be able to apply all I’ve learned as a player in different countries
as someone from a top law firm and someone who has been a chief executive
Molango hopes his first nine months as PFA chief executive have underlined a willingness for a trade union founded in 1907 to change its ways
he was well aware of the PFA’s image and the criticism it attracted during the final years of Taylor’s reign
Dissenting voices – and there were plenty – said not enough had been done to tackle dementia among players and that too much income had gone to the wrong people
and became the stick with which to beat the PFA
whose own cash reserves have also climbed to over £60 million
found that new governance was required with an operational board and players’ board
bringing “greater scrutiny and accountability” of those in power
whose role and influence is thought to have been heavily criticised in the review
The Charity Commission’s ongoing investigation into the PFA’s charity arm is another historic sore unable to yet heal
“Serious concerns” about how an organisation set up to help past and present players were held
including how it was managed by its eight trustees
The findings of the Charity Commission are still to be published
more than three years since a regulatory compliance case was first opened
we’ll make sure that whoever needs to take action
who has turned down the chance to be a trustee to avoid a conflict of interest between the PFA and its charity
I’m not prepared to see my reputation and the reputation of this institution to be tarnished.”
he added: “We came to the joint decision not to publish any more material
It comes to a stage where we need to draw a line under the past
It’s time for us to stop talking about ourselves.”
Molango is laden with issues he has inherited but progress has been made on the most emotive of all matters
A dedicated care department for former players living with neurodegenerative disease was established last month
There will also be an extended family support advisors’ team
which long-time campaigner Astle has called a “significant step forward”
“We need to hear from the people who are actually living with dementia
for them to guide us as to how we can do a better job,” says Molango
“We need to start by being self-critical and acknowledging that a lot of people felt let down by the PFA
“From the position of acknowledging that we could have done things in a better way
We have to try and improve for the families that are suffering
but we’re pushing towards the creation of a fund
Some understand more than others what their financial contribution needs to be.”
That sentence is a signpost to Molango’s character
He is slick but also willing to be abrasive when batting for the PFA
The same approach is likely to be adopted in meetings with the Premier League as the two bodies aim to strike a fresh funding deal beyond the one that expires at the end of this season
There is dissatisfaction with the present one
Molango chooses his words carefully for now but he wants greater resources for the PFA
understood to be worth £25 million per season
“We have an agreement here (with the Premier League),” he says
“I hope we can get to a level of mutual respect in our agreement
I have worked in La Liga and I know the Premier League is held up as the great product
“I’m really keen to contribute towards that product growing
But the times when players have things dictated to them cannot be the case
the union gets a percentage of both domestic and international rights
Fifty per cent-plus of the money now comes from international rights and 75 per cent of audiences are overseas
It’s not enough to say they’re going to inform the players
We need to be part of the discussion and help grow the game here.”
“We’ve done our bit in showing we want to work together and collaborate
“It’s about them understanding that the Premier League is there to look after the clubs and the PFA is here to look after the players
We need to find our respective goals and be clear
“There’s a sense of frustration that these players are just going to be fine
The surprise decision was confirmed on Tuesday after a recruitment process conducted by an independent advisory panel selected the Swiss national ahead of a group of candidates that included the PFA’s current chairman, Ben Purkiss.
Molango started his career at Atlético Madrid – though he never made a senior appearance for the club – before spending three years as a player in England 15 years ago. After his retirement he retrained as a lawyer before being appointed as the chief executive of Real Mallorca in 2016. Molango oversaw two promotions and a return to the Spanish top flight in his four years at the club, before he was sacked from the role last year after a string of bad results in La Liga.
Read moreMolango is understood to have been considered the outstanding candidate in the application process and the PFA confirmed the appointment in a brief statement
“In conjunction with an external recruitment agency
the Advisory Panel has led an independent and transparent search for the PFA’s next chief executive”
“The PFA players’ board unanimously approved the proposed candidate
and the PFA will now look to finalise terms and formalise the appointment.”
Molango will now lead one of the most powerful bodies in English football
He will also become one of the most senior black figures in the game
His appointment follows concern among black players and members of the PFA that not enough had been done at the beginning of the recruitment process to ensure diversity among candidates for the job
Molango will take charge of an organisation under scrutiny by the Charity Commission
which is conducting a statutory inquiry into the PFA’s charitable arm amid “serious concerns” over the way it has been run
The union has also been criticised by campaigners for not doing enough to support members who have gone on to suffer from dementia and other neurodegenerative diseases
the PFA has found itself at loggerheads with football’s governing bodies too; first over proposed cuts to players’ wages during the Covid-19 crisis and then over a salary cap in the Football League
which the PFA successfully overturned in court
Perhaps the biggest challenge facing the former Brighton striker
will be that of steering the union into an era without Taylor
the man who dominated the organisation for a generation
whose £2m salary became a figure readily cited when the PFA was under pressure
he also helped to change beyond recognition the conditions under which his members worked
and the terms under which they were remunerated
Taylor will step down from his role at the end of the season
Maheta Molango was quick to make an impression on English football in 2004 and quicker still when first meeting his Brighton & Hove Albion chairman Dick Knight
“He wasn’t your ordinary footballer,” Knight tells The Athletic. “ A very
Maheta stood out a mile straight away because he was fluent in five different languages.”
who signed two days before his 22nd birthday
would announce his arrival to supporters a few weeks later with a debut goal on the opening day of the 2004-05 Championship season after 12 seconds
Loans followed in the lower leagues with Lincoln City
Oldham Athletic and Wrexham before his release to join Grays Athletic
Three nondescript years yielded 33 appearances in English football but Knight had not forgotten Molango before his unexpected leap into spotlight this month
when he was appointed CEO of the Professional Footballers’ Association
“He didn’t have a long playing career but it was very clear to me he was someone to be reckoned with,” says Knight
It was very clear to me that Maheta was going somewhere.”
is to the PFA headquarters and the top seat occupied by Gordon Taylor since 1981
Molango was surprisingly picked out as the top candidate by an independent advisory panel
and a number of notable former players to apply
Molango represents a new dynamic for the players’ union and its 4,000 members
who helped select the four-person panel that picked out Molango
has suggested there has been “elements of xenophobia” surrounding the reaction of a foreign figurehead
The PFA maintain they have the right man and expect to be in a position to formally announce Molango’s appointment in April
They point towards his experiences as a player
lawyer and club chief executive to validate the credentials of Molango
who spent four years in charge of Spanish club Real Mallorca after almost a decade with a respected legal firm based in Madrid
there is also the belief his appointment will be more representative of the PFA’s members
All that remains are the formalities and Molango will become one of the most influential figures in English football
Molango is entertaining in Mallorca’s boardroom
explaining to visiting directors how he had ended up in such a role after starting out a footballer
“I realised I was a better lawyer and gave up playing,” he says
The episode was captured in the Amazon Prime series “Six Dreams”, a documentary on La Liga that charts the progress of half a dozen protagonists during the 2019-20 season
Cameras follow him on early morning runs or en route to Son Moix
The lens is focused on him during a heavy defeat away to Barcelona
and again when losing 2-0 at home to Sevilla
berates the ills of VAR and even appears at a press conference to vent his spleen
And so is the plot twist that brings Molango’s abrupt exit before the season is through
as well as tensions with head coach Vicente Moreno
a former professional tennis player in the US
pulled the trigger in an attempt to stave off a relegation sealed by July
“His passion and hard work have set the standard for the club and we wish him all the best in his professional future,” read a statement from Mallorca
Molango continued to be filmed after his sudden exit and watched the club’s relegation from La Liga unfolding from a local restaurant
no one can take that away from you,” he says in an off-camera monologue
they suddenly take away the ladders and you fall to the ground
But the profession needs to be dignified.”
Molango opted for diplomacy after his exit
“They wanted carnage and I didn’t want to give it to them,” he is filmed telling a fellow diner
I have been able to return the trust placed in me,” was as punchy as his parting statement went
There was nevertheless disappointment at how his last major role ended
Molango had helped Mallorca to back-to-back promotions in 2017-18 and 2018-19
righting the wrongs that had seen the island club relegated to the Spanish third tier in 2016-17
“In terms of the job he did it would depend on who you asked,” says Alex Fitzpatrick
“The local supporters are mostly glad he’s gone
Their perspective was that he was a businessman
with no connection to the club or any real love
“People can talk about the back-to-back promotions but people don’t forget he was part of the relegation to Segunda B
Molango took on the position of Mallorca’s CEO in 2016 after being head-hunted by Robert Sarver, the US businessman and owner of NBA side Phoenix Suns
Sarver had initially attempted to buy Getafe and Molango acted on behalf of the Spanish club when working for the legal firm Baker McKenzie
The subsequent takeover of Mallorca saw Sarver come calling for Molango
with the US owners seeking a CEO with a sporting background
A humiliating relegation to Segunda B was a dismal introduction but Molango was credited with helping Mallorca rebuild and quickly return to the top flight
He stated Mallorca had been “a club trapped in its past” when arriving
“He essentially had control of the whole club,” adds Fitzpatrick
“The Americans were on the board but it was left to him to run due to their inexperience in football
“His relationship with the manager was poor
He did have very good relations with the players
maybe because he was a similar age to a lot of them
You almost got the sense he still wanted to be out there.”
Despite starting out at Atletico Madrid after an upbringing in Switzerland
he never turned out for the Spanish giants before joining SV Wacker Burghausen in Germany
including that cherished debut for Mark McGhee’s Brighton
“He had an incredible start to his playing career with us,” says Knight
“He scored this brilliant goal inside the first minute of his debut
Maheta was on to it very quickly and slams it into the net.”
soon questioned Molango’s suitability and style to English football
A three-year deal with Brighton was cut short to enable Molango to join non-League Grays but that contract was ripped up two months later
That was the point Molango effectively retired from professional football and pursued his other passion
Knight recalls Molango having a legal degree when arriving at Brighton
“I can remember him telling me that his father was a diplomat for the Swiss government and also a lawyer,” he says
have confirmed to The Athletic that Molango worked for them from 2007 until January 2016 as a “senior associate both at Employment and Compensation and Sports departments.” They added that
“he was a member of our Advisory Board in Madrid” until 2018
Molango worked closely with former Brighton and Leicester forward Leo Ulloa
there was a stint working part-time as a scout and as a pundit on Real Madrid TV
Shortly after his exit from Mallorca last year
Molango was questioned by Spanish police in an investigation against agent Fali Ramadani
There was full co-operation in a case that has been centred on tax fraud and no charges were brought
Molango has admitted publicly it was his intention “to try to return to the management of a club”
The aim was to attract foreign investment through a business called 46th Minute
“I would like to try to reproduce what we did in Mallorca.”
with Molango’s application appealing to a four-person panel of Darren Hardman
independent business figures from outside of the game
“Following an open recruitment process for the Professional Footballers’ Association’s next chief executive
an Independent Advisory Panel has recommended Maheta Molango to the Players’ Board,” said the PFA this month
“The PFA Players’ Board unanimously approved the proposed candidate
Molango will earn an annual salary of £500,000
a quarter of his controversial predecessor Taylor
The recent independent review of the PFA recommended that the chief executive’s salary should be determined by the non-executive directors
Molango’s imminent arrival at the PFA has not been universally well-received within the game
Neville took to social media to defend the selection process
which saw more conventional figures overlooked
“There’s an element of xenophobia about it
It’s clear that football is resisting this appointment through feeding journalists with negative information about the candidate — what he can’t do
the man who last brought Molango to English football
“I’m very aware there’s been opposition to it but I suspect some of that is down to the bigotry of people,” he says
“The PFA have made an extremely clever move because they’ve been under criticism for the way it’s been run
“He can create a totally new image around the PFA
Those steps are both necessary and overdue
first called for in an open letter backed by over 300 players
recommended that a new governance structure be created
The review was concluded last July but its contents — expected to be critical — are yet to be fully disclosed
The PFA is also under scrutiny by the Charity Commission
who are investigating the organisation’s charity arm due to “serious concerns” in its governance
Another matter in Molango’s in-tray will be the issues surrounding dementia suffered by former footballers and the duty of care to them
Former Blackburn forward Chris Sutton has said Taylor has “blood on his hands”
The outgoing CEO defended the PFA’s actions this week
insisting help had always been offered to over 50,000 former players
(Top photo: Quality Sport Images/Getty Images)
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The scheduling of the football calendar has become a major talking point in recent times with many voicing concerns over player welfare
Chief Executive of the Professional Footballers Association (PFA)
has previously criticised the current load put on modern football players and addressed the matter again at the 2024 Financial Times Business of Football Summit in London
The intensity of today's football matches combined with how often players are in action has led to players picking up more injuries and evidently appearing exhausted at times
Last season was particularly draining for plenty of players
as the 2022 FIFA World Cup took place during the middle of the season
This caused the domestic leagues to start earlier than usual and finish slightly later than a regular season would
Among the biggest stars to suffer from the gruelling schedule has been Manchester City and Belgium midfielder
The player had to go off in the first half of the 2023 UEFA Champions League final due to a hamstring problem and suffered a recurrence of the injury last August
which caused him to miss five months of this season
Players the calibre of De Bruyne missing important matches is a key reason why Molango is concerned with the number of matches nowadays
He said: "The Champions League final is supposed to be our Super Bowl
It wasn't because one of the best players in the world
For teams with aspirations of getting to the latter stages of multiple competitions
the reality for them now appears to be that they will have to suffer physically along the way and play through pain
Molango believes the latest consequence of footballers having to go through an intense schedule is the effect on the viewing experience for fans
we've reached a stage where it is not just about the health of the player
Molango's view on the current football calendar has been largely echoed by Premier League managers including Pep Guardiola
Clubs in England's top division have picked up an average of 20 injuries this season
with Newcastle United suffering the most with 29
England Women's boss, Sarina Wiegman has also voiced her concerns with the amount of matches now having to be played in the women's game
The fixture congestion in women's football is a massive concern as it comes during a period where there is a crisis of many top stars spending lengthy time out due to anterior cruciate ligament injuries
Long player absences could become much more prominent if the wishes of many of the current managers to reduce the load on footballers do not get granted
Fans potentially witnessing more of the showcase games of the season without the inclusion of star players could be the tipping point in them also strongly speaking out against the current schedule
Unfortunately for those advocating for a better-balanced schedule to benefit footballer's welfare
the amount of matches top-level players will compete in will only increase in the coming years
The new Champions League format from the 2024/2025 campaign onwards will see clubs play two extra group stage matches
the top eight teams will go through to the round of 16
but the teams ranked 9th to 24th will have to play a two-legged playoff tie to earn their place in the knockout stages
The FIFA Club World Cup will also increase its number of matches from the 2025 edition onwards and will now feature 32 teams
The first edition of the newly expanded Club World Cup will take place across June and July in the United States next year before then being held every four years
Clubs already confirmed to participate in the tournament include Manchester City
The expansion of the tournament has drawn mass criticism, including from Manchester City and Portugal midfielder, Bernardo Silva
who claimed players do not have a say in these changes
according to ex-Arsenal manager and FIFA Chief of Global Football Development
the Club World Cup expansion is necessary to help football grow globally
conversations will need to be had between the relevant parties so that a solution to player welfare can be found
football could soon be on its way to a standoff between the top executives and players
I would like to thank Maheta for his leadership of the club for the past four years during which time we achieved successive promotions
established new marketing partnerships and improved our youth academy
His passion and hard work have set the standard for the club
and we wish him all the best in his future career
will become the interim CEO of Business Operations
as we continue to strengthen our management team in both business and football operations
We remain committed to the long term success of Real Mallorca
We have an important game on Saturday and ask for the continued support of all of our fans
Chiefs Sports CorrespondentTuesday October 31 2023
The TimesMaheta Molango’s annual salary as the chief executive of the Professional Footballers’ Association has risen by a staggering 30 per cent
with the union linking the increase — to £650,000 — to the cost of living crisis
his pay was set as part of a governance review that identified concerns around the fact that his long-serving predecessor
who played professionally for Brighton & Hove Albion and Oldham Athletic among other clubs
began his new role on a salary of just over £500,000
in what amounts to his first pay review since succeeding Taylor
Games are being crammed into every space and footballers are rarely consulted – eventually they will say ‘enough is enough’
For football fans, as the song says, this is meant to be the most wonderful time of the year. A special feature of the English game is the rapid succession of festive fixtures in front of big Christmas crowds. Going to a game is a central and longstanding part of many family traditions. But after the feast of football at the men’s World Cup, the current glut of games risks feeling a little like that final mince pie that proves difficult to get down.
To stretch the analogy further, overindulgence at Christmas is often followed by a much-needed period of abstinence in January. Not this season. In the men’s game, the match schedule for January represents a chaotic jigsaw of league fixtures and domestic cup ties seemingly shoehorned into whatever gap is available. It’s enough to make even the most ravenous football fan think about loosening their belt.
the knock-on effects of hosting a winter World Cup mean that these are unique circumstances
the nature of this year’s fixture calendar has helped focus minds on the need for change
if those who run the game won’t take action
Among the many news stories coming out of Qatar over the past month was confirmation by the Fifa Council of a new 32-team World Club Cup competition for men every four years
Details are still to be confirmed but judging by the response of the World Leagues Forum
the body representing top leagues around the world including the Premier League
then the players who will actually be taking part seem to be even further down the pecking order
Players aren’t even being made aware of changes in advance
when they should be a central part of the decision-making process
We have always been clear that fixture congestion is, primarily, a player wellbeing issue. As the players’ union, the PFA knows that the relentless nature of the schedule is having an impact on the physical and mental health of our members
View image in fullscreenArsenal’s Vivianne Miedema is one of a number of top female players to have suffered an anterior cruciate ligament injury this year
Photograph: Bradley Collyer/PAIt isn’t just about playing less games
The PFA was able to broker a meeting between Gianni Infantino and senior players from the men’s and women’s games in Manchester earlier this year
They made clear that measures such as properly protected in-season and between-season breaks must be introduced
It’s important to remember that by no means is this an issue that is exclusive to the men’s game
At that same Fifa Council meeting last month
a new World Club Cup competition for the women’s game was also confirmed
The continued growth of the women’s game inevitably means more demand for domestic and international competition
Yet football seems to be repeating the same mistakes when it comes to treating the players like robots
A coordinated, player-first approach must be taken to the structure of the calendar and the number of games played. This isn’t something that will be achieved by tinkering around the edges, with the odd set of cup replays being scrapped. It definitely won’t work when any gap is then filled by money-spinning international tours, and when the fixture calendar becomes a battleground in political sparring between governing bodies.
When it comes to the fixture calendar and the number of games being played, something has to give. That something should never be the fitness and wellbeing of the players.
Maheta Molango is the CEO of the Professional Footballers’ Association
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Maheta Molango has vowed to listen and work for players as he takes over as chief executive of the Professional Footballers’ Association
The former Brighton striker has replaced Gordon Taylor to become the union’s first new chief executive in 40 years
In an open letter to players the 38-year-old promised the organisation
who suffered criticism under Taylor’s long-term leadership
will meet their needs and outlined his vision for the PFA
He wrote: “One principle will guide my leadership of our union
and it is this: the PFA belongs to the players
It should always be run on behalf of its members
“I have begun my time at the PFA by speaking to members
our internal teams and a wide range of people from across football
“I’ve been hearing about the issues that matter to them – asking what role the PFA can play and where we can do more
I’ve been making clear my desire to ensure that we work together
I’m looking forward to continuing these conversations
“I know that the interests and needs of players are constantly changing
it is our responsibility to understand where
I want members to have greater opportunities for input into the work of the PFA
and I am personally committed to making sure your voices are heard and represented.”
Molango spent time at Brighton between 2004 and 2007 and also played for Lincoln
He is a qualified lawyer, fluent in Spanish, French, Italian, German and English and was seconded to Atletico Madrid as legal counsel in 2015 – ahead of their 12-month transfer embargo in 2016
including the sale of Mario Mandzukic to Juventus
Yannick Carrasco’s switch from Monaco and Antoine Griezmann’s new deal
Previously a part-time scout for Charlton, he negotiated Mesut Ozil’s termination deal from Real Madrid ahead of his move to Arsenal in 2013
“As a player in England like you, I was a member of the PFA. The players’ union supported me, and I saw its value first-hand,” he continued.
“Having also played and worked in football in other countries as chief executive (at Real Mallorca) and lawyer, I’ve seen how well-regarded the PFA is and how widely it is recognised for the way it successfully represents players’ interests.
“The PFA has been central to a huge amount of positive and transformative change within football over the years – change that has benefitted members at every level of the game. This collective influence has been hard-won and it is something we must strive to protect.
“The impacts of the coronavirus have shown how important the PFA can be to defend your interests. The game – OUR game – is at a crossroads and the players should be at the centre of any discussion about the future of football.
“I join the PFA at a time of change, both for the union and within the game more widely. I take over the role of chief executive from Gordon Taylor, who led the PFA for over 40 years.
“Gordon achieved an enormous amount on behalf of members, and he deserves our thanks and recognition for his work and his commitment.”
the man who is set to become the next chief executive of the Professional Footballers’ Association after 40 years of Gordon Taylor’s reign
only made a handful of appearances for Brighton & Hove Albion but that was enough to go down in club folklore
is remembered as Brighton’s “12-second man”
which is how long it took him to score on his debut for the club
away to Reading in the Championship in August 2004
It was the high point for the Swiss-born striker
who was 22 at the time — he never scored for the club again
to fall out with Brighton’s combative manager Mark McGhee
a Swiss former player who spent time in England’s lower leagues
is to be revealed as the surprise choice to succeed Gordon Taylor as chief executive of the Professional Footballers’ Association
a 38-year-old lawyer and former chief executive of Real Mallorca
has been chosen for the £500,000-a-year post as Taylor’s 40-year PFA reign comes to an end
and could take over as early as next month
He will become the first black chief executive of a leading English footballing body
The selection has led to several written complaints to the players’ union about the recruitment process
Eyebrows have also been raised by an article Molango wrote on his LinkedIn profile
in which he talks about linking players’ salaries to clubs’ income rather
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The Professional Footballers’ Association are set to appoint Maheta Molango
a journeyman former striker from Switzerland
Molango spent three years in England’s lower leagues between 2004 and 2007 before qualifying as a lawyer.
He then spent four years as chief executive of Real Mallorca until he was sacked by the Spanish club last year.
Molango has been selected ahead of PFA chairman Ben Purkiss, who had been tipped for the role, and his appointment has raised some eyebrows within the game.
Taylor is to stand down as chief executive of the PFA by the end of this season after 40 years in the job.
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This Page Has Washed AwayLooks like this page has disappeared with the tide — perhaps it’s buried in the sand at Vazon or drifting off Petit Port
Former Brighton and Hove Albion striker Maheta Molango has taken over as the new chief executive of the players’ union
the Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA)
Blackburn and Bury winger who held the post for 40 years
joined the Seagulls on a three-year contract in 2004
from the German side SV Wacker Burghausen – and after two years in Atletico Madrid’s youth team
He scored after just 12 seconds on his debut in newly promoted Brighton’s Championship opener – a 3-2 defeat at Reading
Having scored five times in five friendlies
it turned out to be Molango’s one and only competitive goal for Albion as the forward fell out with manager Mark McGhee
Molango spent most of the next two and a half years on loan – to Lincoln City
He played for Brighton one last time – only his sixth league appearance in a Skint shirt – coming on as a substitute at Carlisle in League One in September 2006 under Dean Wilkins
When his contract was cancelled in early 2007 he joined non-league Grays Athletic but shortly afterwards he signed for the Madrid office of an international law firm
He went on to represent the Argentinian striker Leo Ulloa
who scored 24 goals in 60 games during two spells with Brighton
And he was chief executive of Real Mallorca from 2016 to 2020 during which time the club won successive promotions to return to La Liga
who was born in Switzerland to a Congolese mother and Italian father
is not the first former Brighton striker to go on to run one of the game’s institutions
spent three years as the chief executive of the Scottish Football Association from 2007 to 2010
Smith scored 22 goals in 109 appearances for Brighton from 1980 to 1983
including the opener in the 1983 FA Cup final against Manchester United
But Smith is better remembered for the goal that he didn’t score towards the end of extra time – immortalised by radio commentator Peter Jones who said: “And Smith must score!”
Albion – already relegated from the top flight – lost the replay 4-0 and Smith
Molango will earn about £500,000 a year in his new job although Taylor was reputed to have been paid £2 million a year for running the PFA
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With the world’s best footballers getting increasingly frustrated with their crowed playing calendar
PFA chief executive Maheta Molango shapes as a central figure in the game
Please call us on 1800 070 535 and we’ll help resolve the issue or try again later
exceed the speed limit and make a good impression
you can also score on your debut for Brighton and Hove Albion
Which kind of ticks the good impression box as well
12 seconds was all it took for Molango to open his Albion account on the opening day of the 2004-05 Championship season away at Reading
It was also how long it took to close his account as he never scored again but hey
Molango began his career in the youth team at Atletico Madrid without ever making the breakthrough with Los Colchoneros and was released in the summer of 2003 to join Wacker Burghauseu
He spent the 2003-04 season with the Bundesliga 2 outfit
Brighton didn’t have a pot to piss in and that made players like Molango extremely appealing to manager Mark McGhee
McGhee was desperately seeking a new striker to replace Chris Iwelumo
who’d decided not to turn his successful loan move from Stoke City into a permanent deal
preferring instead to move to Germany with Alemannia Aachen
Given the huge role Iwelumo had played in helping the Albion to win promotion out of Division Two via the play offs
McGhee therefore was casting his net far and wide. Molango was one of three strikers brought in on trial to try and replace Iwellumo, as well as complementing 23 goal man Leon Knight and the less glamorous Chris McPhee
The other two were Niger striker Ibrahim Tankary and Hungarian forward Zsombor Kerekes
McGhee very quickly decided that Tankary wasn’t up to the job
hardly surprising given that he’d spent most of his career being a journeyman striker in the Belgian lower leagues
McGhee was less decisive when it came to Kerekes
The Hungarian was given two trials as the Albion boss ummmed and ahhhhhed about offering him a deal
It was only four days before the opening day at the Madjeski Stadium that McGhee decided not to sign Kerekes
Four goals in his first three pre-season appearances against Woking
Weymouth and Crawley Town convinced McGhee to offer the striker the best birthday present possible – a three year deal in the same week that he turned 22
And so we arrived at that glorious day at the Madjeski Stadium
McPhee out injured and Jake Robinson only old enough to legally drive a tractor and not a car
Molango spearheaded the Albion attack on their return to the second tier after a season absence
it appeared as though he’d have somewhat of a thankless task against a Reading side that were managed by former Brighton boss Steve Coppell and included such talents as Nicky Shorey
A long afternoon under the Berkshire sunshine looked in store as referee Phil Crossley blew his whistle to get the season underway
Virgo showed just what a cultured player he was by taking a touch and then leathering the ball 70 yards down the pitch
Molango chased to put Adie Williams under minimal pressure but it was enough to force the Reading defender into making a right hash out of his clearing header
Glen Little didn’t do much better with the loose ball and he was dispossessed by Reid
That knocked it through to Molango who strode past the static home defence to hit a side footed volley past Marcus Hahnemann
1-0 to Brighton and a place in Albion folklore for Molango
The Albion ended up losing 3-2 that day but it looked to be an encouraging start and things were meant to get better from there for both Brighton and Molango
one of the most promising aspects of his friendly performances had been the way in which he’d linked up with Knight
They’d scored all three goals at Weymouth between them and looked to have the basis of a promising partnership
They played together for the first time in a competitive match away at Wigan Athletic in the third game of the season once Knight had completed his suspension
They then partnered each other in a League Cup defeat to League Two Bristol Rovers
Never again did they take to the field together
Molango was jettisoned after just five starts with McGhee deciding to play position roulette and try Virgo up front
For a decision that looked to have been taken by a man sniffing glue
that was actually a remarkable success and spelled the end of Molango’s brief Albion career
He still had two years and 10 months left on his contract, in which time he managed two further substitute appearances. The first of those was in the 90th minute of a 1-0 win away at Leicester City less a week after he’d been dropped
He then had to wait over two years to represent the Albion again
in between various loan spells with Lincoln City
coming on away at Carlisle United with Brighton back in League One
Dean Wilkins afforded him a half in the 3-1 defeat at Brunton Park before telling him three months later to find a new club
That new club was Grays Athletic but he lasted only two games there before returning to Spain
where he began undertaking qualifications to become a lawyer specialising in sport in Madrid
He can now be found as CEO of Spanish side Real Mallorca
just without a hatred of flasks and a penchant for fleecing fans
Apart from those 12 seconds, things never worked out for Molango at the Albion. But what become of the other strikers he trialed with? Tankary went back to moving around the lower leagues in Belgium, even spending a season with Union Saint Galloise who are now owned by Tony Bloom
Kerekes meanwhile was much more successful
He went onto win three Hungarian titles with Debreceni VSC
play Champions League football and earn nine caps for Hungary
But would he have scored after 12 seconds of his Albion debut
James Virgo scored the first golden goal in Brighton history to secure a shock 3-2 win over Fulham in the 1996-97 Auto Windscreen Shield
Gary Neville has claimed there are “elements of xenophobia” behind criticism of the next PFA chief executive Maheta Molango
Ex-England defender Neville was one of four independent non-executive directors to recommend Molango should succeed Gordon Taylor
Swiss lawyer Molango, 38, who had a journeyman career with spells at Brighton
also worked at Real Mallorca but is a surprise choice for the role for the Professional Footballers’ Association
But he has been described as being “head and shoulders” above the other candidates to succeed 71-year-old Taylor who is to stand down this year following a lengthy review of the players’ union
Neville clearly believes there is a smear campaign going on against Molango already because other more familiar candidates were not recommended for the job
there are negative undertones and it’s clear that football is resisting this appointing
“Resisting this appointment through feeding information about the candidate
“It’s the first time that there’s been a truly independent appointment within football and because it’s not someone they know
representative of the membership and before he even gets into the seat
it’s almost been determined whether he’s good enough or not.”
Gordon Taylor is set to finally step down as chief executive of the Professional Footballers' Association
is viewed by many as somewhat of a leftfield choice
we would be shocked if you were even aware of the former Oldham Athletic striker's existence prior to him hitting the headlines
as your best friends at 90min have compiled a one-stop guide to everything you should know about the PFA's new lead man
Molango during a spell on loan at Lincoln City where he failed to score a single league goal / Pete Norton/Getty ImagesMolango must be the only player to have both Atletico Madrid and Grays Athletic on his footballing CV
The Swiss-born striker started his career at Los Rojiblancos, failing to make an appearance before joining Brighton in 2004
A string of loan spells further down the English football pyramid followed before he was eventually released in 2007
Soon after he rocked up at Grays for a few games and then decided to return to Spain for several lower league spells
He finished his career with a five-year stint at Madrid based Union Adarve
Former Seagulls striker turned lawyer @Maheta_Molango
who scored after just 12 seconds of his Albion debut
Although it ultimately did not work out for Molango at Brighton
his Seagulls career got off to the perfect start
On the opening day of the 2004/2005 season, he netted after just 12 seconds in a game against Reading at the Madejski Stadium
Although Brighton went on to lose the match 3-2
with Dave Kitson levelling up the scores a minute later
Seagulls fans who traveled to the game must have thought they were on to a winner with Molango
that would be the only goal that he would score in a blue and white shirt
Molango fell out with Brighton boss and 'proper football man' Mark McGhee soon after
"He has showed some brilliance and he can also be very frustrating. We have to continue to work hard with him and he must toughen up," McGhee told the Argus at the time
"Even in training he gets bumped and knocked over
sometimes marginal fouls which you don't get
We have got to knock that out of him."
Eni Aluko has also combined football and practicing law / Giuseppe Bellini/Getty ImagesAs Brighton's tweet has already given away
What's even more impressive is that he combined earning his degree with playing football
he joined a law practice where he specialised in sport
Two years later he obtained his Masters degree from the Washington University of Law
While in the United States he wrote a paper discussing property rights during armed conflicts which appeared in the ILSP Law Journal
He really is not your stereotypical footballer
check out series two of Six Dreams on Amazon Prime
The documentary series follows different figures over the course of a La Liga season
Molango appeared in the series during his time as RCD Mallorca CEO
a role he held until January 2020 when a falling out with manager Vicente Moreno led to his departure
Also featured in series two are Santi Cazorla
Athletic Bilbao's Aritz Aduriz and Levante boss Paco Lopez
Molango chilling with Takefusa Kubo during his time at Mallorca / Quality Sport Images/Getty ImagesCommunicating with the cultural melting pot of PFA members should not be a problem for Molango
skills that served him well during his playing career
As per The Times
no matter where in the world Molango played his football
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