Rooney criticises targeting of Premier League players
Wayne Rooney has criticised the British government and the Premier League for placing footballers in a “no-win situation” over proposed pay cuts after a warning from players’ representatives that National Health Service (NHS) coffers could suffer.
The former England captain, now playing with Championship side Derby, penned an impassioned column in the Sunday Times saying his fellow professionals were “easy targets” in the wider response to the coronavirus crisis.
Rooney made it clear he had both the means and the will to make financial contributions, either in the form of salary reductions or direct donations to the NHS, but felt the public pressure being exerted on players was unhelpful.
The Premier League’s suggested strategy involving a combination of pay cuts and deferrals amounting to 30% of wages, was discussed in a conference call with players’ and managers’ representatives on Saturday.
Initial talks were already under way before political figures, including health secretary Matt Hancock, called for action.
“If the government approached me to help support nurses financially or buy ventilators I’d be proud to do so, as long as I knew where the money was going,” wrote Rooney.
He added: “I’m in a place where I could give something up. Not every footballer is in the same position.
“Yet suddenly the whole profession has been put on the spot with a demand for 30% pay cuts across the board. Why are footballers suddenly the scapegoats? How the past few days have played out is a disgrace.”
The Premier League has been seen as lagging behind other European leagues in its response to coronavirus and was accused by a British MP of operating in a “moral vacuum”.
But Rooney questioned the wisdom of the Premier League in pre-empting behind-thescenes talks involving players with its own proposals for sweeping reductions.
“In my opinion it is now a no-win situation,” he said. “Whatever way you look at it, we’re easy targets.”
England defender Danny Rose, on loan at Newcastle from
Spurs, said players were “keen to make something happen”.
The Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) said its members wanted to play their part but warned that a projected 30% salary reduction would cost the country £200m in lost tax receipts.
A PFA statement released on Saturday after the conference call said the combined tax on player salaries was a contribution to funding essential services. “Taking a 30% salary deduction will cost the exchequer a substantial sum,” it said.
“This would be detrimental to our NHS and other governmentfunded services.”
A handful of top-flight clubs, including 2019’s Champions League finalists Liverpool and
Tottenham, have opted to furlough non-playing staff using the safety net of the government’s job retention scheme.
But former Liverpool players Jamie Carragher and Stan Collymore criticised the move by the European champions, who in February announced pretax profits of £42m for 2018/19.
Rooney’s former England and Manchester United teammate Gary Neville, now a leading broadcaster, was critical of the Premier League.
“The Premier League are handling the coronavirus crisis terribly,” he wrote on Twitter, before outlining a checklist of perceived missteps including their slowness in imposing a lockdown and the “PR disaster” of furloughing.