The global union of professional footballers (Fifpro) said Friday " worried " facing the decisions of several European clubs to place their players unemployed, or cut their wages to relieve finances disrupted by the coronavirus pandemic.
"We are extremely worried that a significant number of clubs, in more than half a dozen countries, have started to lay off (players) on technical unemployment or reduce their wages unilaterally" , protests Fifpro in a press release , before calling on clubs having "financial difficulties" to "meet their national leagues to negotiate proportionate and fair arrangements".
Several clubs in Europe, according to the national legislation in place, have indeed taken measures to deal with their shortfall due to the suspension of the championships: this is notably the case for FC Barcelona, which announced a reduction in salary of its staff (without specifying which ones were concerned), of the Scottish "Hearts" club, whose players were asked to accept a reduction of 50% in their salary, or of many French clubs switched to a system of partial activity which deprives players of 16% of their net salary.
In Germany, players from Bayern Munich and Dortmund have also agreed to give up part of their salary. "At the time of such a striking social crisis, solutions must be found with the contribution of everyone," continues the global players' union. "Most football players outside the biggest leagues in the world earn the same level, if not less than the average domestic salary, and would be severely affected by salary cuts."
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