Beckham prospect divides politicians
Before a deal has even been signed, reports that English football star David Beckham is set to join football giants Paris Saint Germain has unleashed a wave of comment.
The reported size of Beckham´s pay packet, at €800,000 per month ($1.05 million), has caused some on the left to rail against the high salaries of football players.
“I’ve had enough of these huge salaries,” said Socialist member of parliament Jean-Marc Ayrault on TV news channel i-Télé.
“And it’s not just in football,” he added. “The Socialists are proposing a law that would put in place a maximum salary.”
Eva Joly, who will stand as presidential candidate for the Greens in 2012, said the salary was “shocking given the economic crisis.”
“It’s not a game, but business,” she said. “At his age and given the state of his knees, he’ll be selling T-shirts.”
Support for the possible Beckham salary came from the business minister, Frédéric Lefebvre.
“Let’s wait and see what David Beckham brings to the club and then we’ll know if it’s interesting or not for the club to employ him,” he said, reported daily newspaper 20 Minutes. He added that salaries in football can be high but that “careers can be very short.”
For former prime minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin, the issue of Beckham’s salary was less important than the possible arrival of his wife, former Spice Girl turned fashion designer Victoria.
“I’m thrilled that his wife is coming,” he said.
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