In recent months weÆve given a lot of coverage to Paul CaligiuriÆs contract dispute and the ongoing MLS Players Association (aka the Friends of Johnnie Kerr) action against the league. Whatever the rights and wrongs of the two cases ù few people are sitting on the fence ù we could be forgiven for thinking that the U.S. is alone in experiencing contract woes. Not so. In fact our contract problems are conducted in a gentlemanly fashion compared to the rest of the world. Who, for example, will show up at the Tournoi de France, the 1998 hostÆs letÆs-show-the-world-weÆre-ready event? Didier Deschamps is leading the charge for players to wear their own shoes, contravening the French soccer federationÆs head-to-toe adidas deal. He wants a boycott, but Les Bleus will probably play, as did the South African team, which took on England at Old Trafford May 24, but only after the team got paid up front in cash. The reason: the Bafana Bafana didnÆt trust their federation. Not surprising, given the corruption charges that flew at South African federation heads last year. Also in Manchester, came the patented Eric Cantona retirement. This time he was rumored to want a two-year deal, and miffed at the offer of one, he packed his boots up and headed back to France. Or Ronaldo and Barcelona, engaged in probably the longest contract renegotiation in history. The latest hitch: TheyÆre quibbling over who pays the playerÆs taxes. Result: Bye-bye Barca. For the moment, at least. Lured away at an extra zero on a paycheck, coaches remain the worst offenders, though. Inter MilanÆs Roy Hodgson has added a new slant. Already leaving for Blackburn at the end of the season, Hodgson quit with two games remaining in Serie A after Javier Zanetti took a swing at the Englishman and Inter fans pelted him with coins and cigarette lighters at the UEFA Cup final. Now, as ever, contracts arenÆt really worth the paper theyÆre written on. For the time being though, American soccer is getting off light. ù by Soccer America Senior Editor Duncan Irving