Munich (dpa) - As team captain of FC Bayern, Manuel Neuer has described the Munich football professionals' waiver of wages in the corona crisis as logical.
"We professional footballers are a particularly privileged professional group, for whom it is a matter of course to make financial cuts when there is need," said the goalkeeper to the daily newspapers "tz" and "Münchner Merkur".
"FC Bayern has around 1000 employees and many more who perform important tasks related to the club. We want to help them as a team with our waiver and offer security," said the national goalkeeper, who will be 34 on Friday.
The team council around Neuer had agreed with CEO Karl-Heinz Rummenigge, sports director Hasan Salihamidzic and board member Oliver Kahn that the players as well as board and supervisory board members waive 20 percent of their earnings. With the money, short-time working at FC Bayern is to be avoided for the time being, the employees should not suffer any disadvantages in the Corona crisis.
Neuer had already announced a donation of 2.5 million euros with his national team colleagues, whose exact use will be discussed. "The decision was not difficult at all because it goes without saying. It was a circle of players who discussed with the team management and it was then my job as captain to inform all other players. The immediate positive response was great that I experienced in every conversation, "said Neuer, who is also captain of the DFB selection.
The 2014 World Champion fundamentally praises the helpfulness in competitive sports. "Of course it's nice what you hear from so many clubs. But you shouldn't forget that there are a lot of athletes who have been tirelessly helping and socially committed for years," said Neuer. Born in Gelsenkirchen, he has been involved with the "Manuel Neuer Kids Foundation" for years in favor of socially disadvantaged children and young people.
Facts and figures about Neuer
Manuel Neuer Kids Foundation