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.

"/> 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.

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DAVID BECKHAM

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.

Beckham prospect divides politicians
Regular Daddy

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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DAVID BECKHAM

‘Beckham tax law’ booted out of Spain

A Spanish law designed to attract foreign sports stars of the likes of David Beckham with tax privileges has been stamped out in the government's latest tax reform.

'Beckham tax law' booted out of Spain
The decree was nicknamed the “Beckham Law” after the English football legend took advantage of it when signing for Real Madrid. Photo: Javier Soriano/AFP

Passed in 2005, the Spanish tax decree was nicknamed the “Beckham Law” after the English football legend took advantage of it when signing for Real Madrid.

Initially designed to lure in skilled foreign workers and professional athletes other than footballers, it was Spain’s La Liga that profited from it most when signing up big names.

The law stated such individuals were liable only for Spanish taxes on their Spanish source income and assets; meaning well-paid foreign football players would pay income tax on all annual earnings at the minimum rate of 24 percent.

As Spanish daily ABC put it, “Real Madrid’s ‘galácticos’ would pay the taxes of a mileurista (word in Spanish to describe somebody who scrapes by on €1,000 a month.”

Spain’s previous socialist PSOE government already tried to put a stop to these unfair tax privileges by making €600,000 the limit at which the foreign workers and athletes could benefit from the 24 percent tax rate. They called the law “Ley Ronaldo” after the Portuguese Real Madrid star.

Now Spain’s Popular Party has put the final nail in the coffin with a tax reform which means football stars will pay the same 45 percent tax rate as any Spain-based worker who earns more than €60,000 a year. 

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