FIFPRO condemns Roma's treatment of Karsdorp
FIFPRO has condemned Roma for a "mobbing campaign" of Rick Karsdorp after head coach Jose Mourinho labelled the defender a "traitor".
Mourinho made the comment following a 1-1 draw with Sassuolo in November, albeit without directly naming Karsdorp, though reports quickly identified the former Feyenoord man as his target.
Mourinho said there was one player who "betrayed his team-mates" and urged them to leave the club in January.
Karsdorp initially refused to train following his coach's comments, though he was later present as the club held a training camp in Portugal during the World Cup.
FIFPRO, the global union for professional football players, hit out at Roma's treatment of Karsdorp on Thursday.
FIFPRO said in a statement: "FIFPRO strongly condemns AS Roma's treatment of Rick Karsdorp, who in recent weeks has been the victim of a mobbing campaign.
"Karsdorp has been accused in public of being a 'traitor', a hurtful and baseless term that club management has failed to address or apologise for, and fans have repeatedly used to confront him and his family.
"Furthermore, he has been made the subject of an unjustified disciplinary case.
"These acts apparently are a way to deflect from the club's poor recent performances and are aimed to put unjustified pressure on the player.
"Such behaviour is incompatible with the FIFA regulations on the status and transfer of players.
"Rick Karsdorp has the full support of both FIFPRO and Dutch players' union VVCS."
Jonas Baer-Hoffmann, FIFPRO's general secretary, added: "It cannot be stressed enough that players are first and foremost employees of their clubs and that, as such, clubs have a duty of care towards them.
"We call on AS Roma to immediately comply with that duty of care and ensure that Rick Karsdorp is treated fairly, and that his rights are respected."
