Premier
League clubs will consult their players over a possible 30 per cent wage cut
during the coronavirus pandemic.
Following a meeting between all 20 clubs on Friday, it was confirmed that
matches will not resume at the beginning of May and that the season will
only restart when it safe to do so.
The league also said a £125m solidarity payment will be made to the EFL and
£20m will be donated to the NHS.
On Thursday, health secretary Matt Hancock said in the UK government's daily
briefing that Premier League footballers should "play their part" by taking
a pay cut.
A Premier League statement said: "In the face of substantial and continuing
losses for the 2019/20 season since the suspension of matches began, and to
protect employment throughout the professional game, Premier League clubs
unanimously agreed to consult their players regarding a combination of
conditional reductions and deferrals amounting to 30 per cent of total
annual remuneration.
"This guidance will be kept under constant review as circumstances change.
"The League will be in regular contact with the PFA and the union will join
a meeting which will be held tomorrow between the League, players and club
representatives."
The statement was released amid efforts by a group of senior Premier League
players to organise a crisis fund to support the NHS.
Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson is understood to be heavily involved in
the organisation of the fund, which could lead to millions of pounds worth
on donations.
Resumption date pushed back
The Premier League reiterated a desire to complete the 2019-20 season, but
confirmed that matches will be suspended beyond April 30, the date English
football had previously been suspended until.
The meeting came a day after UEFA urged its members not to "abandon" the
current season, and threatened expulsion from European competition for those
who ignored their guidance.
Liverpool were 25 points clear at the top of the table and needed just two
more wins to secure the title when the Premier League was suspended on March
13.
"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 statement said.
"The restart date is under constant review with all stakeholders, as the
impact of the COVID-19 pandemic develops and we work together through this
very challenging time.
"The Premier League is working closely with the whole of professional
football in this country, as well as with the Government, public agencies
and other relevant stakeholders to ensure the game achieves a collaborative
solution.
"With this, there is a combined objective for all remaining domestic league
and cup matches to be played, enabling us to maintain the integrity of each
competition.
"However, any return to play will only be with the full support of
Government and when medical guidance allows."
Stark warning from Premier League clubs
Analysis by Bryan Swanson, Chief Reporter...
For four hours Premier League clubs discussed the increasing impact of the
coronavirus pandemic and the message was stark - act now.
Clubs are facing "substantial and continuing" losses and something has to
give, with costs soaring each day at a time of no matches.
The proposal to reduce and defer up to 30 per cent of a player's annual
income, based on certain conditions, highlights a sense of unprecedented
urgency.
The fact the Premier League has requested talks with the PFA, the player's
union, within the next 24 hours demonstrates the need for a decision as
quickly as possible.
Representatives from the League Managers Association will also be involved
in this weekend's discussions, given the obvious impact to their members
too.
Clubs agreed to advance £125m to the EFL and National League, money they
were owed anyway, but it may yet prove vital to some clubs further down the
football pyramid in a financial crisis.
Their £20m donation to the NHS and other key initiatives, including
community organisations involved with clubs, is another much-needed
injection of cash.
Officials are keen to stress their measures were not in response to scathing
criticism from some members of Parliament on Thursday, and a plea by Health
Secretary Matt Hancock.
Premier League clubs have been speaking about introducing a number of
measures for a number of weeks.
English football's top clubs, including players, pay billions of pounds each
year in UK tax - £3.3 billion based on figures from an Ernst & Young report
of the 2016-17 season, and they support close to 100,000 jobs.
The decision to suspend games until further notice, with no specific
timeframe, was a formality.
Football will only return when it is safe to do so, and the government is
comfortable, most likely initially behind closed doors.
These are hugely uncertain and volatile times.
It is now time for Premier League players, via their union, to make their
next move - at a time of an escalating global pandemic.
Neville: I believe players will contribute
Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville believes Premier League footballers will want
to contribute...
"I do believe that 99 per cent of footballers originate from the streets of
Berwick, Bootle, Bolton, Solihull, Dudley - they're not from Hampstead and
Knightsbridge - they've got good souls and are good people. They've just
done well, they're just lucky enough to be in the one per cent of people who
dream of being a footballer and make it.
"I think if you asked those Premier League players do they want to
contribute to the NHS, to the communities to the challenge the country is
facing now, they'd say absolutely they do.
"The clubs themselves will need support in the coming weeks, particularly if
this goes into June, July, August, September, with the revenue lost from
season tickets, gates etc. There will need to be support, and it's about
compromiser and collaboration.
"The players will have to consider that. If I was part of the players union,
as I was for many years, I'd also want some sort of contribution to my club,
because I think it is important that I contribute to my club and that they
survive, but also to make sure there is a contribution to the wider
community and the NHS from the pay I get."
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