FOOTBALL DOES ITS BIT
● Players will accept 30% pay cut ● Captains set up NHS crisis fund ● Premier League’s £125m to aid EFL
PREMIER LEAGUE footballers are poised to take a 30 per cent wage cut to help fund the fight against the coronavirus pandemic.
Clubs unanimously agreed last night to consult their players this week on reductions and deferrals of wages, to safeguard jobs and plough money into resolving the crisis.
A video conference of Premier League captains including Liverpool’s Jordan Henderson,
Manchester United’s Harry Maguire and Chelsea’s Cesar Azpilicueta, below, also set up a crisis fund for the NHS that is expected to raise millions.
The statement was a robust response to Health Secretary Matt Hancock’s call on Thursday for wealthy Premier League footballers to “play their part” by taking a pay cut.
Following a video conference call of all 20 Premier League clubs yesterday, it was confirmed that the season will not start again at the beginning of May, as had been hoped but is postponed indefinitely.
Additionally, in a statement by the league and the country’s leading clubs, it was announced that funds worth about £125million will be advanced to Football League and National Clubs to help out during the crisis.
The Premier League will also donate £20m to the NHS, families and vulnerable groups to help out during the pandemic.
The league said in a statement: “In the face of substantial and continuing losses since the suspension of matches began, and to protect employment, Premier League clubs unanimously agreed to consult their players regarding a combination of conditional reductions and deferrals amounting to 30 per cent of total annual remuneration.”
The league will have further talks with the
PFA, who had spoken out against pay cuts, players and clubs today.
Newcastle, Tottenham, Norwich and Bournemouth had all come in for criticism this week for putting non-footballing staff on furlough leave.
As expected, with the virus seemingly yet to hit its peak in this country, the May restart date was put back indefinitely.
The league added: “It was acknowledged that the Premier League will not resume at the beginning of May – and that the 2019/20 season will only return when it is safe and appropriate to do so.”
The Premier League and the clubs remain committed to trying to complete this season’s fixtures, with about £750m worth of television money at stake.
The EFL, the FA and Barclays FA Women’s Super League and FA Women’s Championship all also indefinitely postponed all fixtures last night.
The Football League said in a statement: “The EFL notes and appreciates the decision taken by the Premier League in respect of the short-term financial relief it is to provide EFL clubs through the advancement of solidarity payments, parachute payments and academy grants.”