Premier League cash crisis is laid bare at meeting

English Premier League chi e f s have la id out football’s crippling financial crisis as the coronavirus pandemic engulfs the world.

Top- f l ight captains , including Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson, were joined on a video conference call by their managers, club execs, league officials and PFA chiefs yesterday.

During the hour-long call the crisis was underlined as top-flight clubs stand to lose between £1.1bn and £1.2bn in revenue.

Those projections take into account ticket money and matchday incomes, sponsorship and TV sums which could see broadcasters demanding £762m in financial penalties if they can’t show the games that remain this season.

It also includes players’ salaries, which amount to £500m to £ 600m.

The players will receive a full refund on their wage deferrals – if the season is finished in front of fans.

However, if the remaining 92 f ixtures are played behind closed doors then players will only get back two-thirds of the 30 per cent

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deferrals they have agreed. It was not, according to sources, overly contentious.

No resolut ion wa s reached but captains agreed to go back to team-mates to confirm whether or not they were willing to take the 30 per cent wage cuts proposed this week.

The players have made it c lea r that they wi l l contribute during the crisis but want assurances cash they give up will go to those who need it most, rather than back into club coffers.

The skippers will now speak to team-mates and P FA ch i e f s b e f o r e announcing the measures they will accept.

The PFA released a statement on behalf of the Premier League players after the meeting.

It read: “Al l Premier League players want to – and will – play their part in ma k i n g signif icant financial contributions in these unprecedented times.

“Players fully appreciate their role and responsibilities in society during this current crisis.”