TOKYO, Dec 20 (Reuters) - Japan's national team have threatened to boycott international friendly matches if their demand for a pay hike is not met, local media reported on Monday.
The Japan Pro-Footballers Association (JPFA) said the unhappy players would back down only if they are offered a significant pay rise. "We have no plans of backing down," JPFA executive officer Tetsuro Kiyooka was quoted as saying by the Kyodo news agency.
JPFA lawyers will meet their counterparts in the Japan Football Association on Tuesday to find a way out of the crisis. "We cannot comment as we are leaving the situation in the hands of our lawyers," the JFA said.
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Nice redundant reiteration of the point in the second paragraph...
Apparently they get around US$2,000-$2,500 if they win a game and they want at least US$12,000 a game guaranteed.
That 2K seems small bananas, especially for the players easning big money in Europe. Keisuke Honda must be making around US$30,000 a week in Moscow and is worth more on the market after his eye-catching World Cup.