Premier League to push players for 30% wage cut, restart date on hold

[rooster59]

Premier League to push players for 30% wage cut, restart date on hold

By Simon Evans

 

FILE PHOTO: Soccer Football - Premier League - Manchester United v Watford - Old Trafford, Manchester, Britain - February 23, 2020 General view of a match ball held by Manchester United's David de Gea during the warm up before the match Action Images via Reuters/Lee Smith//File Photo

 

(Reuters) - The Premier League has said its clubs will consult with their players over a proposed 30% reduction in wages and the suspended season would only resume when it was "safe and appropriate".

 

The league accepted that a previous target of returning to action in early May would not now happen and said on Friday it was keeping the restart date under "constant review".

 

While there has been speculation about a reduced season or even abandoning this campaign, the league said the aim was still to complete all remaining domestic league and cup matches.

 

"However, any return to play will only be with the full support of Government and when medical guidance allows," it added in a statement https://www.premierleague.com/news/1651836.

 

With lower league clubs facing a cash-flow crisis due to the coronavirus outbreak, the top-flight teams voted to make an advance of 125 million pounds ($153.13 million) to the Football League (EFL) and National League sides.

 

The EFL, which consists of the 72 professional clubs in the three divisions below the Premier League, said the cash they would receive from the top flight included early solidarity payments, parachute payments and Academy Grants.

 

Much of the focus of talks between officials this week has been the issue of player compensation during the halt in play.

 

The league said its clubs "unanimously agreed to consult their players regarding a combination of conditional reductions and deferrals amounting to 30 percent of total annual remuneration".

 

Talks with the players' union, the PFA, will continue on Saturday, as the two sides seek an agreement on compensation during the stoppage.

 

PUBLIC FEELING

 

Sports Minister Nigel Huddleston said it was right that players' wages were on the table when there were lower-paid staff at some clubs being furloughed.

 

“The football authorities must all be aware of the strength of public feeling on this and I expect them to show leadership on the matter," he said.

 

The Premier League said it was "committing 20 million pounds to support the NHS (National Health Service), communities, families and vulnerable groups during the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

"This includes a direct financial contribution to the NHS and funds to enable clubs to refocus their efforts and develop significant outreach programmes to help communities, including those most in need."

 

Less than 24 hours after Health Minister Matt Hancock said players should take a pay cut and "play their part" in the national effort to tackle the pandemic, two moves also emerged from the players themselves.

 

Manchester United captain Harry Maguire asked his team mates to donate 30% of their salaries to local hospitals and was given backing by the squad.

 

England defender Maguire was among the 20 Premier League captains who took part in a call on Thursday evening to discuss a collective response and donation with plans now expected to be developed.

 

(Reporting by Simon Evans; Editing by Christian Radnedge and Ken Ferris)

 

-- © Copyright Reuters 2020-04-04

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[mrbojangles]

The rest of the leagues and players in Europe (at least) need to do the same or we could see a huge backlash later

[Jonnapat]

Many of the Premier League players earn well in excess of £100,00 per WEEK, while other staff are being laid off. 

It certainly wouldn't do any serious damage to their lavish lifestyles and would set a good example to all those others overloaded with money to cough up in these awful times.

[natway09]

You will hear the pansies moan now

[Iron Tongue]

7 hours ago, Jonnapat said:

Many of the Premier League players earn well in excess of £100,00 per WEEK, while other staff are being laid off. 

It certainly wouldn't do any serious damage to their lavish lifestyles and would set a good example to all those others overloaded with money to cough up in these awful times.

While I agree that these players should be able to afford a temporary cut, so many of them live so far beyond their means that you will see a lot of selfishness and refusal to accept.

[Justgrazing]

20 hours ago, rooster59 said:

 

(Reuters) - The Premier League has said its clubs will consult with their players over a proposed 30% reduction in wages

Some club's player's are already looking into giving over a percentage of their salaries on their own accord .. Leicester City I think are one club who are already on it .. 

[wilai]

Players taking a 30% pay cut could mean a loss of 200m+ in taxes, which would reduce the government money available to support the NHS, a factor seemingly ignored by the government spokesman.

 

Many players have already made large donations to various local charities in Liverpool and Jordan Henderson has also contacted his fellow captains at the other Premiership clubs with a view to collecting 1m+ to be donated directly from their wages to the NHS. Players are easy targets yet, although not widely reported, are doing far more personally than politicians or rich businessmen!

 

As for the clubs themselves....that is a different matter!

[Bredbury Blue]

2 hours ago, wilai said:

As for the clubs themselves....that is a different matter!

As a Liverpool fan, what's your opinion on Liverpool furloughing?

 

They made record profits a season back.

 

Seems a peculiar decision to have taken, Liverpool are not exactly Norwich or Bournemouth stature.

 

Thoughts.

[wilai]

38 minutes ago, Bredbury Blue said:

As a Liverpool fan, what's your opinion on Liverpool furloughing?

 

They made record profits a season back.

 

Seems a peculiar decision to have taken, Liverpool are not exactly Norwich or Bournemouth stature.

 

Thoughts.

Already given on the other thread.

 

"But on a serious note, it seems an ill-thought decision and is already being criticised by supporters groups and pundits. In the past, FSG have reversed poor decisions and this may well turn out to be the case here. I hope so."

[Bredbury Blue]

Think Henderson, Milner, VVD and other senior pros may get the club's american owners to change their furlough decision.

[jellydog]

9 hours ago, wilai said:

Players taking a 30% pay cut could mean a loss of 200m+ in taxes, which would reduce the government money available to support the NHS, a factor seemingly ignored by the government spokesman.

 

Many players have already made large donations to various local charities in Liverpool and Jordan Henderson has also contacted his fellow captains at the other Premiership clubs with a view to collecting 1m+ to be donated directly from their wages to the NHS. Players are easy targets yet, although not widely reported, are doing far more personally than politicians or rich businessmen!

 

As for the clubs themselves....that is a different matter!

Well said, and the Guardian article today on the subject a must read.

[smokie36]

Amused to see Rooney saying some Premiership players might only be able to take a 5% cut in wages cos they are skint.

 

Hahahahaha!