Santos president Luis Álvaro criticises São Paulo’s ethics concerning Ganso

Santos president Luis Álvaro has criticised São Paulo’s ethics amid their alleged tapping up of Ganso, claiming he will go to FIFA if it does not end.

The 69-year-old has heavily criticised his cross-city rivals following their recent proposals to sign midfielder Paulo Henrique Ganso.

Santos will only allow the number 10 to leave if his release clause is met, which has irritated the trustee alvinegro, who has also promised to go to Fifa should their attempts continue.

Luis Álvaro said: ''If this siege does not stop, I will go to Fifa as I did with Chelsea when they came here in 2010 and thought they could take the hit and pay Neymar.

''If São Paulo's director of football comes right out and says they have struck a deal with the athlete's salary, is that not enticement?

''São Paulo are missing ethics. How can they entice a player in the middle of our league?  The Fifa law is clear on this.''

Ganso was recently quoted saying "it would be a pleasure to wear the shirt of São Paulo" after he had expressed his desire to leave Santos, which provoked an onslaught of boos, coin throwing and chants of “mercenary” at the hands of the Santos fans.

The Santos president confirmed that he had a meeting with Ganso to offer a wage increase and suggested the midfielder has expressed a willingness to continue at the club.

''I had a conversation with Ganso to express my solidarity with the unjust aggression he suffered after the game,'' Álvaro added. ''We know it was a deal orchestrated to force a situation but that does not exist.''

The 22-year-old has made five appearances in the Brasileirão and can only make one more before maxing out his ability to play for another team in Serie A this season.

The Seleção international has a contract with the Saints until February 2015.