Corporate giants put the boot in
PREMIER LEAGUE stars are being asked to take deferrals on their boot deals and commercial contracts.
Top names can earn multi-million pound contracts to wear the latest boots with Nike, adidas and Puma all paying huge sums to sign them.
Cristiano Ronaldo (right) is reported to be getting £15million a year from Nike, while Puma was trying to tempt Raheem Sterling with a big offer.
Players have already been asked to take deferrals and wage cuts by their clubs to ease the financial burdens during the pandemic.
Now some sportswear giants have also asked players to delay and restructure payments as
THERE has been much talk about restructuring the Carabao Cup and the EFL Trophy.
But the impression managers have been given is they will have to get on with it next season, as the EFL will not give up competitions for fear of losing cash.
Some Premier League players have become addicted to the cycling app Zwift during lockdown.
There are even league tables on Whatsapp for the quickest and best on cycling machines.
THE Players Together initiative raised £1million through a charity auction on ebay with 500 signed shirts up for grabs.
Footballers have been a shining light through this crisis with Raheem Sterling’s voice on racism, Marcus Rashford’s school meals campaign, taking the knee before games and supporting Black Lives Matter.
They are now arguably the loudest, most everyone is feeling the squeeze of an impending global recession.
Fewer people are buying boots and the pandemic has also had an impact on kit sales. The knock-on effect has hurt the whole industry. Commercial deals were escalating out of control, but could now be set for a reality check in the next two or three seasons.
Some clubs chose to announce deferral agreements with their players and the vast majority at least had the discussion.
One Premier League giant overhauled their bonus structure rather than implementing a cut at a time when they are chasing a trophy and European place.
CLUBS are being encouraged to fly to Premier League games when it is a longer journey – even though it could become a logistical nightmare. Southampton arranged a flight and a hotel for tonight’s game at Norwich, but as airports won’t be open for the return journey they will have to take a coach instead, with the 200-mile trip back to the south coast taking around four hours. Flying is better for social distancing, with coaches having to use up to four vehicles, while trains are harder to clean.
ARSENE WENGER has recalled one of his “favourite memories” of how his players remained grounded even for the biggest games.
Arsenal favoured putting up foreign youngsters with trusted landlords in north London so they would be close to the stadium and the training ground – and could immerse themselves into the local culture.
Ex-gunners midfielder Cesc Fabregas once made Wenger smile by getting a lift in his landlady’s Renault 5 to catch the team bus for a Champions League tie with Real Madrid. Teammates had flash cars, but the kids stayed grounded.
important voices in the country and they will continue to raise money for NHS Charities Together with another campaign launching next week.
A joint players’ statement said: “We are glad that this was something which all fans up and down the country can get involved in and help us raise even more money to make a difference for the real heroes of this crisis.”