LONDON, April 3 — Premier League clubs will consult with their players over a 30 per cent reduction in their wages and also voted to provide £125 million (RM668 million) to Football League and National League teams to help with their cash flow problems caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
The League said in a statement that its 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 Premier League also said they were “committing £20 million to support the NHS, 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.”
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 league has been in talks with the players’ union, the PFA, about wage reductions and deferrals but there was no immediate sign of a deal.
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 per cent 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.
The Football League (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 includes solidarity payments, parachute payments and Academy Grants. — Reuters
