SAF could be the answer! Serie B club players may strike; find out

SAF could be the answer! Serie B club players may strike; find out Ponte Preta’s situation in Brazil’s Série B could become even more complicated. Having gone six months without pay, the Campinas club’s players threatened to go on strike last Thursday (19), before the 6-0 loss to Vila Nova.  The result kept Macaca on just ten points after 23 matches and at the bottom of the table. The club is virtually relegated to Série C along with América Mineiro. If no agreement on the unpaid amounts is reached by next Tuesday (25), the idea " is to take measures backed by the law, which means stopping football until athletes and staff receive their salaries ." The strike threat means Ponte runs a real risk of forfeiting by walkover from its next match onward, which will be precisely against América in Belo Horizonte. Before that, next Sunday (23), Macaca will host Avaí (16th) at Moisés Lucarelli.  The crisis has been an issue at the club since last year. The historic Série C title came despite the exodus of players (and the coach) because of delayed wages. That situation did not change at the turn of the year. And relegation in the Campeonato Paulista came after just one point from eight matches. A R$1 BILLION cash proposal? The Ponte Preta squad’s statement — see the full text below — presents the possibility of the club becoming a SAF as something fundamental.  The deadline mentioned for salary payments is linked to the Extraordinary General Assembly scheduled for Monday (24).  It will be on that day that Ponte’s Deliberative Council will decide on the creation of a Football Corporation. And Ponte is said to already have a R$1 billion proposal. The breakdown would be:  R$300 million to pay off debts R$300 million to invest in football over 10 years (R$30 million/year) R$400 million to modernize Moisés Lucarelli  The proposal in question would only be discussed if the SAF model is approved. But an amount to settle the pending obligations would be guaranteed even if that offer is not approved at a later stage. That would then become a loan to be repaid by the club.  Ponte squad statement "Ponte’s players have gone about six months without pay and are living through a situation that can no longer be ignored. At this moment, it is essential that the SAF move forward and be supported as an alternative to put the accounts in order, guarantee salaries, and provide decent working conditions for athletes and staff. Without a concrete solution, the ones who end up paying the price are precisely the workers inside the club. Players and staff need to be paid so they can meet their obligations, with athletes and staff facing hardship alongside their families. Ponte needs responsibility, investment and, above all, a solution that allows the club to honor its commitments again. From August 25 onward, if nothing changes, we will take measures backed by the law, which means stopping football until athletes and staff receive their salaries. Support for the players. Support for a solution for Ponte" Photo: Marcos Ribolli/PontePress This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.