PSL clubs quick to slash pay

Absence of football during pandemic means clubs are actually saving some moolah

In the wake of the controversy surrounding some PSL clubs implementing salary cuts of players and support staff, with others still contemplating going the same route, observers have criticised the move.

The argument put forward is that it is too early for clubs to initiate the slashing of pay packets simply because the grant from the league is still in place.

Most significantly as well, there is no travel and hotels to be paid for as there are no matches played. In fact, the clubs are actually saving some moolah.

Amazulu and Cape Town City in the Premiership and Real Kings, Cape Umoya United and Tshakhuma Tsha Madzivhandila in the National First Division (NFD) have been at the forefront of the cutting of pay, which begs the question why other clubs of the stature of Golden Arrows and Baroka, that don’t have deep pockets, have not followed suit.

The clubs argue that they are not getting revenue from the gate-takings as is usually the case when hosting matches. My counter-argument is that those slashing salaries are not even huge crowd pullers in the same class as Kaizer Chiefs, Orlando Pirates or Mamelodi Sundowns, so that does not hold water.

As things stand, they would be lucky to have more than a thousand spectators at home.

Durban-based Usuthu emerged as the first team in the elite league to propose salary cuts last month because of the coronavirus crisis. City followed suit announcing they are considering implementing salary cuts from this month.

The league has been emphasising that it has not stopped paying Premiership and NFD clubs their monthly grants after the PSL’S major sponsor, Supersport, guaranteed the continued payment of TV rights, despite there being no live matches screened.

The PSL pays a R2-million monthly grant to top-flight clubs to pay wages and to cover other expenses, while clubs in the NFD are given R500 000 a month. There is also the government relief fund meant to rescue sports and the arts.

Some clubs, more so in the lower division, are said to have cut players’ salaries by 50% without even engaging the players on such measures.

The SA Football Players Union has revealed that some clubs do not even issue payslips, which simply means the players cannot apply for relief from the Unemployment Insurance Fund.

Our players cannot be compared to the likes of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo, or any player plying his trade in the top leagues in Europe. These are mega-buck earners and pay cuts don’t make a huge hole in their pockets.

Football, through the PSL games, remains the biggest contributor to the country’s happiness index, but because of the Covid-19 pandemic, this has come to an abrupt stop.

However, it does not mean the very people contributing to the happiness – the players – must suffer. It is not their fault. It is no one’s fault.

Uefa’s medical committee believes restarting seasons suspended because of the coronavirus pandemic “is definitely possible”, just as several European countries are ruling out attempts to return to action. “All football organisations which are planning a restart will have to produce comprehensive protocols,” said Uefa’s medical committee chairman Tim Meyer.

Former Tottenham boss Mauricio Pochettino is the first choice of Newcastle’s prospective new owners to replace Steve Bruce as manager and they are willing to pay him £19-million (R447-million) a year.

Those clubs slashing salaries are not even huge crowd pullers