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Natacha Pisarenko/AP/Press Association Images

Greece players ask for their World Cup bonuses to be put towards training complex

Admirable gesture from the players who are preparing for a round of 16 tie against Costa Rica.

THERE HAVE BEEN plenty of money troubles at this year’s World Cup. The Ghana camp came apart at the seams because of rows over their bonuses while the Cameroon squad was embroiled in a stand-off before boarding a plane to Brazil because of a similar issue. Meanwhile, the Nigerian team has demanded that they receive the money that was promised to them by their football federation.

But some teams do things differently. Like the Greeks.

After reaching the knock-out stage, the squad was promised a bonus by the country’s president Antonis Samaras. But, the players have politely turned it down and asked for the money to go instead towards a new training centre that could lead to a successful future for the national team.

According to reports, an official letter, signed by all 23 Greek  players, was sent to Samaras and outlined the following:

We do not want extra bonus, or money. We only play for Greece and its people. All we want is for you to support our effort to find a land and create a sports centre that will house our National team “.

Greece take on Costa Rica in their round of 16 clash in Recife later on tonight.

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12 Comments
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    Mute James
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    Jun 29th 2014, 4:09 PM

    Between this and the story about Samaras and that young Celtic fan, Greece are quickly becoming a very likeable team. Fair play to them.

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    Mute Step Off
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    Jun 29th 2014, 4:24 PM

    You’re right Hamez, I’m definitely going for Greece tonight.

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    Mute Ted Carroll
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    Jun 29th 2014, 4:27 PM

    I’d be willing to bail them out again after this!

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    Mute Keaneland
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    Jun 29th 2014, 8:13 PM

    Ah Ted, I thought the money was just resting in your account!

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    Mute Andrew Fitzsimons
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    Jun 29th 2014, 4:10 PM

    This, and Gorgeous George’s recent kind acts with Jay, have made Greece my team for the World Cup! Plus it shows that you can go far in the tournament, despite not having 11 world-class players, if you play to your strengths

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    Mute monkeysocks
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    Jun 29th 2014, 5:33 PM

    Makes the behaviour of the whiney money-grabbing African teams all the more shameful

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    Mute Spoddgy
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    Jun 29th 2014, 5:42 PM

    Whop somebody had to say it! I was hoping they would beat Ivory Coast. With talent they have that they don’t seem to play like a team plus some of shenanigans the yaya toure does be up to with city I’m not really a fan. Obviously the death of his brother has been a tough situation

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    Mute James Clarke
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    Jun 29th 2014, 4:04 PM

    Nice gesture, good to see them giving back to their country. Still up for Costa Rica though

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    Mute Jeremy Usborne
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    Jun 29th 2014, 4:11 PM

    nice to see and fair play,makes a change from players kissing piles of cash

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    Mute Stephen O Flynn
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    Jun 29th 2014, 5:32 PM

    If we ever qualify again we could get the players to donate towards prize money for the league of Ireland. Since it’s only £80k for winning club shouldn’t be to hard or prob better subsidise john Delaney salary of 400k?
    Joke how football is run in this country.

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    Mute Spoddgy
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    Jun 29th 2014, 5:44 PM

    What’s the Greece manager’s wages I recall he was on £600,000 in the euros while trap was on what £2m? I recall we were supposed to be playing to our strength then too

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    Mute Aodhan Fogarty
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    Jun 30th 2014, 12:32 AM

    International players have already put their hands in their pocket to bail league of Ireland clubs out in the last few years!!!

    It’s time for the so call ‘best fans in the world’ get off there bar stools on a Friday night and put their hands in their pocket to support our league

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