Coronavirus: English Premier League wants players to take pay cut

Matches delayed beyond the start of May but league wants to complete season

Players were asked to take pay cuts because of the coronavirus shutdown. AFP

The English Premier League wants footballers to take a 30 per cent pay cut to cope with losses caused by the coronavirus pandemic.

It said it would consult with players, unions and clubs over the proposed cut as it revealed that matches would not resume in May.

“The 2019/20 season will only resume when it is safe and appropriate to do so,” the league said in a statement.

“Premier League clubs unanimously agreed to consult their players regarding a combination of conditional reductions and deferrals amounting to 30 per cent of total annual remuneration.”

The consultation comes after the UK health secretary Matt Hancock urged players to make a contribution as millions of workers face hardship with the closure of businesses and the furloughing of staff.

The league said that it would also “advance funds” of £125 million to lower leagues and pay an undisclosed sum to the country’s state-run health service.

The announcement followed a meeting of shareholders, of the world’s most profitable football league competition.

It said that it retained the goal of completing all domestic and cup matches for the season with Liverpool the runaway leaders of the league.

The club's captain, Jordan Henderson, has been speaking with his counterparts at other clubs about setting up a fund to help the health service separately from the Premier League initiative.

The move by Premier League players comes after pay cuts by professional players across Europe.

The Barcelona squad and their La Liga rivals Atletico Madrid agreed to 70 per cent reductions while the coronavirus crisis continued.

The Juventus squad has also taken a cut and leading German clubs have paid into a fund to support struggling lower-league clubs.