A staggering 92 per cent of British people think Premier League players should take a pay cut during the coronavirus crisis, according to a new YouGov Sport survey.
Clubs are currently weighing up the financial costs of the Covid-19 outbreak with all English football suspended indefinitely as the global crisis escalates. The PFA - the players' union - met with the Football League, the Premier League and the League Managers' Association on Wednesday to discuss financial implications.
Many Premier League stars earn well in excess of £100,000 a week, but have not yet been asked to take pay cuts or deferrals, while the non-playing staff members at clubs are being furloughed and taking home 20 per cent less themselves.
Norwich, Newcastle and Tottenham have all already placed staff on furlough in a bid to ease some of the pressure on their financial situation.
When an employee is placed on furlough they are temporarily put on a leave of absence and not paid, although they remain on the payroll, meaning that they do not lose their job.
This could be because there is no work for these employees, or that the company is not able to afford to pay them, because of the effects of the coronavirus crisis.
In the United Kingdom, the Government is offering to pay 80 per cent of a furloughed employee's wages, up to £2,500 per month, until they are able to resume their job full time. The Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme will last for at least three months from March 1.
But new YouGov Sport research reveals that the majority (92 per cent) of British people think top flight players should be prepared to take a pay cut. 2,154 British adults were surveyed on March 31.
Two-thirds (67 per cent) of British people who think players should reduce their pay believe that any cut should represent 50 per cent or more of footballers’ salaries.
In addition, nine per cent of those polled believe that Premier League players should be prepared to accept a 100 per cent reduction in salary for the duration of the COVID-19 outbreak.
It comes after Barcelona players agreed earlier this week to sacrifice 70 per cent of their wages while German giants Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund have also taken 20 per cent pay cuts.
In Italy, meanwhile, Juventus players have waived four months' wages in a move that could see Cristiano Ronaldo give up over £9m of his money to help the cause.
The Premier League's 20 clubs will hold another conference call with top-flight executives on Friday related to the impact of the coronavirus outbreak.
Source: m.allfootballapp.com