Premier League clubs have been accused of living in a “moral vacuum”, with players urged to take their share of the financial hit from the coronavirus pandemic as non-playing staff begin to feel the pinch.
Last year’s Champions League finalists Tottenham as well as Newcastle and Norwich have faced a backlash for using the British government’s furlough scheme, which will guarantee 80% of employees’ income up to a maximum of £2,500 a month. “It sticks in the throat,” said lawmaker Julian Knight, who chairs the Commons Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee, referring to the use of public funds to prop up wage bills. “This exposes the crazy economics in English football and the moral vacuum at its centre.”
That £2,500 sum would be a drop in the ocean for many Premier League stars, yet there has so far been no agreement on wage cuts or deferrals for players, unlike the situation at other top European clubs such as Juventus and Barcelona.
Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy said he hoped discussions between the Premier League and players’ and managers’ representatives would “result in players and coaches doing their bit for the football eco-system”.
Levy is in the firing line himself despite taking a 20% cut in salary for the next two months. On Tuesday he announced a 20% cut for 550 non-playing staff on the same day it was revealed he was paid £7mn last season, including a £3mn bonus for the completion of the club’s new stadium, which ran well over time and budget. Players at Barcelona have taken a 70% pay cut during Spain’s state of emergency and will make additional contributions to ensure other employees receive full wages. The squad of Italian champions Juventus, including Cristiano Ronaldo, have agreed to have their wages stopped for four months while players at German giants Bayern Munich accepted a 20% pay cut.
Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe became the most prominent Premier League figure so far to take what the Cherries described as a “significant” pay cut yesterday.  Howe, 42, agreed to take a “significant” cut to his reported £4 million-per-year ($4.9mn) contract to help offset the financial damage caused by the pandemic. Players can argue the spotlight is being unfairly shone on them to foot the bill rather than the billionaire owners of clubs. “I think the football industry is being used a lightning rod by politicians,” football finance expert Kieran Maguire said.
“The same criticisms are not being made of the banking industry, not being made of hedge fund managers, they are not being made of lawyers who charge £10,000 a day, accountants, or off-shore funds which avoid paying tax.”
According to the Sunday Times rich list, Tottenham owner Joe Lewis, who resides in the Bahamas, saw his wealth surge to £4.4bn last year. “Joe Lewis himself is worth over £4bn and we are having a go at Harry Kane who is a guy with a career that is going to end at 35,” added Maguire. Players do not want to be the fall guys in a crisis only for clubs to behave irresponsibly when their income returns. “It’s ridiculous to have clubs deferring their obligations to players and then making big-money transfer signings,” said PFA chief executive Gordon Taylor.
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