Sampaoli returns salary in show of support to Santos players

Santos head coach Jorge Sampaoli said Thursday that he gave back his latest pay cheque in a show of solidarity with his players, who have not been paid for almost two months.

Players are still waiting to receive their February wages, which were due at the start of March, club officials have confirmed.

"On the issue of salaries, anybody else would have done the same," former Argentina and Chile boss Sampaoli told reporters. "You have to pay salaries on time to everybody."

Sampaoli signed a two-year contract with Santos in December, his first job since parting ways with Argentina after last year's World Cup in Russia.

The 59-year-old expressed exasperation at the Brazilian club's inability to meet its commitments with players and staff.

"I had no reason to know about the financial condition of the club," Sampaoli said. "I arrived with knowledge of the squad, and what I and the team needed. It's a situation that the club has to resolve. Santos has a wonderful history. The club and the directors have to be up to the task."

The comments came a day after Santos lost 4-0 to Botafogo-SP, a result that left them second in Group A of the Paulista championship behind RB Brasil.