Premier League accused of ‘moral vacuum’ as clubs cut staff wages

[FILE] Members of the media are reflected in the glass at the headquarters of the English Premier League in London on March 13, 2020. (Photo by Isabel Infantes / AFP)

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 percent of employees’ income up to a maximum of £2,500 ($3,000) 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”.

However, a joint meeting between the Premier League, English Football League, Professional Footballers’ Association and League Managers Association on Wednesday failed to reach an agreement.

“No decisions were taken today, with discussions set to continue in the next 48 hours with a focus on several high-profile matters, including player wages and the resumption of the 2019/20 season,” the four bodies said in a joint statement.

Levy is in the firing line himself despite taking a 20 percent cut in salary for the next two months.

On Tuesday he announced a 20 percent cut for 550 non-playing staff on the same day it was revealed he was paid £7 million last season, including a £3 million bonus for the completion of the club’s new stadium, which ran well over time and budget.

Players at Barcelona have taken a 70 percent 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 percent pay cut.

“Where the players have the means and they step forward I think that shows very much that they understand what is happening right now and frankly we will be seeing more of that,” said FIFPro general secretary Jonas Baer-Hoffmann.

Political football

Bournemouth manager Eddie Howe became the most prominent Premier League figure so far to take what the Cherries described as a “significant” pay cut on Wednesday.

London Mayor Sadiq Khan told the BBC that top-flight players should take the hit.

He said: “Highly paid football players are people who can carry the greatest burden and they should be the first one to, with respect, sacrifice their salary, rather than the person selling the programme or the person who does catering.”

However, 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 as a lightning rod by politicians,” football finance expert Kieran Maguire told AFP.

“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.

Yet, transfers are far from the minds of most executives just trying to ensure their clubs are still standing in a few months’ time.

“When I read or hear stories about player transfers this summer like nothing has happened, people need to wake up to the enormity of what is happening around us,” added Levy.