Premier League stars face backlash over pay during pandemic

request to Premier League players from British health secretary Matt Hancock was direct: “Take a pay cut.”

swift response from Professional Footballers’ Association on Thursday: Maybe, but t yet.

Hancock's comments reflected growing public pressure in Britain for players in world's richest football league to follow example of clubs in Spain and forego some of ir ws to help pay salaries of staff during coronavirus pandemic.

With soccer on hold across Europe, players at Barcelona and Atlético Madrid have taken pay cuts of 70%, but English clubs have yet to anunce any similar measures. Tottenham and or clubs have even said y plan to use a government scheme to help pay ws of club staff during shutdown, effectively using tax payer money as a bailout despite making record revenues last season.

government, though, seems to telling clubs to pay ir own way.

“Everybody needs to play ir part in this national effort and that means Premier League footballers too,” Hancock, who oversees National Health Service, said from Downing Street. “Given sacrifices that many people are making, including some of my colleagues in NHS who have made ultimate sacrifice of going into work and have caught disease and have sadly died, I think first thing that Premier League footballers can do is make a contribution, take a pay cut and play ir part.”

English players’ union has been in talks with Premier League about a collective agreement about deferring or reducing ws but re was resolution by Thursday night.

“We are aware of public sentiment that players should pay n-playing staff’s salaries,” PFA said. “However, our current position is that — as businesses — if clubs can afford to pay ir players and staff, y should.”

That public sentiment grew when Tottenham, which reached Champions League final last season and is among 10 biggest money-makers in club football worldwide, anunced its 550 n-playing staff members would have ir pay cut by 20% or be furloughed.

Under job retention scheme hastily implemented last month as national coronavirus lockdown was implemented, staff put on furlough can receive 80% of ir salaries from government, up to a maximum of 2,500 pounds ($3,000) a month.

Fellow Premier League clubs Bournemouth, Newcastle and rwich have also anunced plans to furlough staff.

However, players union doesn't like those measures eir.

“ players we have spoken to recognize that n-playing staff are a vital part of ir club and y do t want to see club staff furloughed unfairly," PFA said. "Any use of government’s support schemes without genuine financial need is detrimental to wider society.”

English football is operating in a “moral vacuum," according to Julian Knight, who chairs House of Commons select committee overseeing sports and asked treasury to consider a windfall tax on Premier League clubs.

Many of English clubs are owned by billionaires from around world — including Tottenham, whose owner Joe Lewis has an a wealth valued at more than 4 billion pounds by Sunday Times Rich List.

“In instances where clubs have resources to pay all staff, benefit of players paying n-playing staff salaries will only serve business of club’s shareholders,” PFA said.

issue will be debated by 20 Premier League clubs on Friday when y hold ir latest emergency conference call. issue of resumption of competition is also on nda. English football was shut down on March 13 and will t return until May — at earliest.

number of virus-related deaths in Britain has accelerated this week. Government figures on Thursday showed country had 33,718 confirmed cases and 2,921 deaths — an increase of 569 deaths from day before.

For most people, coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough. But for ors, especially older adults and people with health problems, it can cause severe conditions like pneumonia and is sometimes fatal.