English PFA seeks urgent talks to protect salaries as virus crisis deepens
The Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) 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 ($7,000) a week to take a temporary 50 per cent 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.”
Players at Bayern Munich and other German clubs have reportedly agreed to take pay cuts.
“Under the right circumstances and with suitable reassurances, mechanisms like wage deferrals are something that might have to come on to the table; certainly, it’s up there for discussion,” PFA deputy chief executive Bobby Barnes told The Athletic earlier this week.
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 and coaches, including Argentine manager Marcelo Bielsa, have agreed to defer their wages “for the foreseeable future” to ensure all non-football staff at the club can be paid.
The loss of matchday 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
Leeds were on the brink of ending a 16-year wait to return to the lucrative Premier League before football was suspended across England until at least April 30 due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The club said the lack of income would cost “several million pounds each month”.
“Leeds United can confirm that the players, coaching staff and senior management team have volunteered to take a wage deferral for the foreseeable future to ensure that all non-football staff at Elland Road and Thorp Arch (training ground) can be paid and the integrity of the business can be maintained during these uncertain times,” Leeds said in a statement.
“It is important that we all work together to find a way that the club can push through this period and end the season in the way we all hope we can,” the statement added.
Director of football Victor Orta praised the players’ show of unity for the rest of the club’s employees. “My players have demonstrated an incredible sense of unity and togetherness and I am proud of their actions,” said Orta. “To Marcelo and his staff and all of the players, we thank them for putting our wider team first.”
Leeds lead the Championship by a point from West Brom, but have a seven-point advantage over third-placed Fulham in the race to secure the two automatic promotion places.