PFA boss Gordon Taylor
The Professional Footballers’ Association says proposals for a 30% pay cut for Premier League players would be “detrimental to our NHS”.
And according to the BBC the PFA also called on the league to increase its own £20m charity pledge.
The league wants players to take a 30% salary cut in order to protect jobs but the union says that equates to more than £500m in wage reductions, and a loss in tax contributions of more than £200m to the UK government.
The union also questioned Health Secretary Matt Hancock’s public criticism of footballers’ salaries during a news conference on Thursday.
“What effect does this loss of earning to the government mean for the NHS?” the statement read. “Was this considered in the Premier League proposal and did the Health Secretary factor this in when asking players to take a salary cut?”
Oliver Dowden, the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport tweeted: “Concerned about the turn football talks have taken…People do not want to see infighting in our national sport at a time of crisis.
“Football must play its part to show that the sport understands the pressures its lower paid staff, communities and fans face.”
The PFA said all Premier League players “will play their part in making significant financial contributions in these unprecedented times”.
ClaretandHugh says: There should be no discussion, no argument, no hard line contradictory views from the PFA. We are into a situation where we all simply do what we must do and the simple and elementary truth is that footballers – as probably most of them we are quite sure understand and accept – HAVE to play their part. For the PFA to be arguing on behalf of the NHS when all that is required for them is to give the nod to the players to do what they believe is right. This is not a matter of Union discussion but a matter of morality and doing the right thing. The PFA is showing itself to be the unacceptable side of the game. Just do the right thing because it’s precisely this sort of approach that’s seeing football being shamed – the public relations is appalling among everybody living in the real world.
What a crass thing to say. Time these overly privileged idiots stepped back into the real world. They are doing themselves no favours. I don’t think the rest of the country will forget when this is over.
I wonder how many players pay PAYE and NI at the full rate anyway. Feels like there’s a good chance that there are some tax efficiency vehicles that allow players to swerve some or all of the liability. So, the NHS argument would carry even less weight.
Actually, they all do. Players’ contracts are always direct employment contracts between them and their club, so they are PAYE employees on full tax and NI. Them’s the HMRC and EPL rules, no exceptions.
They might do deals over boots, personal sponsors and image rights, but the main employment with X thousands of pounds per week you read about in the papers is straight PAYE.
Moral dilemma, should a millionaire footballer bail out a multi billionaire tax exile as in case of Joe Lewis at Spurs to save value of club. Concern of players seems to be where the money is going, and want assurances. The funding of lower league clubs is a different argument with many complications, as Stoke owners have said they have funds to continue paying staff, but many others don’t.
Are the Tory ministers asking their billionaire backers and friends in the City to donate 30pct of their earnings or Branson to sell his private island to fund Virgin. Why pick on young men in their 20s who are an easy target, why are the media not digging out the culture minister who wrote a book on tax avoidance.
I am sure the footballers are looking at their personal situation, but don’t need to be hung out by Brady’s Tory mates. Has Lord Sugar been asked to give up 30pct too?
Brady herself said she is willing to take 30pct cut in line with players. Why does she have to wait for players, she can do this unilaterally
They give up some of their immense wages and much lower paid staff are kept on the books and pay tax, albeit at a lower level.
No excuse for not doing the decent thing in these difficult times, especially for people at the poverty end of the scale and those who are unable to work and earn to support their families
If the PFA want to keep tax revenue (from the players 30% “cut” assuming it ever happens, then have the players keep their salary and donate 25% to the NHS. One would think that many CEOs etc making huge salaries could also do the same.
The figures statedby the PFA are for a 12 month period.
Are players asked to take a pay cut for a full year or a few months until football can start again?
While I think it’s unfair for anybody to demand anybody takes a pay cut I think the PFA are doing there member no favours given the apparent public opinion.
Don’t these idiots understand the meaning of the word
PERCEPTION
I would like to remind these useless freeloaders – which is what they are, until they start playing again; & even then, they will be paid way more than they deserve – that the Government is going to miss out on tax payments from the doctors & nurses who have died doing selfless service to the community. It is time for the players to get real & realize their responsibilities to the population, the Government, the clubs & it’s other employees; & to all those who are doing something meaningful in this situation. Shame on them ! I will never forgive them if they do not do their duty.