PFA seeks urgent talks to protect salaries
LONDON: The Professional Footballers’ Association called on Wednesday for urgent talks with the Premier League and the English Football League (EFL) over the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic on players and clubs.
Football in England has been suspended until at least April 30 and the lay-off could last much longer as Britain braces itself for a surge in cases of Covid-19.
The loss of match-day revenue has hit clubs hard, particularly in the three divisions below the Premier League, and raised the prospect of clubs asking players to accept wage deferrals.
According to reports, Birmingham have become the first Championship team to do so, seeking approval from players earning more than £6,000 a week to take a temporary 50 percent cut.
“As with other industries, the current Covid-19 crisis is having a severe impact on the finances of the game,” said a PFA statement.
“Several clubs have already approached players with a view to imposing pay deferrals.
“In order to deal with this situation, we have called for an urgent meeting with both the Premier League and the EFL.”
Even when football returns, matches could initially be played behind closed doors to reduce the impact on medical services.
Doing so would help to ease the financial crisis at the top end of the game, with Premier League clubs reportedly facing a £762 million payout to broadcasters if the season cannot be completed.
“In an ideal world we would be playing in front of crowds. But we’re not in an ideal world and certainly, the players I’ve spoken to accept that if that is what’s going to be, that’s what it will have to be,” said Barnes.
“Football is about fans. But the reality is that for the vast majority of the players, particularly at the highest level, their income is funded by television money and there are contracts that have to be adhered to.”
Meanwhile Leeds United’s players, coaching staff and senior management have voluntarily deferred their wages to ensure the club’s 272 members of fulltime and casual staff are paid in the coming months, the English second-tier club said yesterday.
Leeds said the lack of matches among other things will cost the club “several million pounds” each month, which led to manager Marcelo Bielsa and his squad deciding collectively to defer wages to keep the club running in “uncertain times”.
“My players have demonstrated an incredible sense of unity and togetherness and I’m proud of their actions,” Leeds’ director of football Victor Orta said in a statement.
“To Marcelo and his staff and all of the players, we thank them for putting our wider team first and taking care of family.”
With nine games left, Leeds are top of the Championship, one point ahead of West Bromwich Albion and seven ahead of third-placed Fulham with the top two automatically promoted.