We all know the lavish lifestyle sports celebrity live, posh cars, huge mansion, designer wears but these guys and gals work hard for their dosh, sweating out in the fields and courts. In football the weekly wages of some of the top players can hit 500,000 pounds a week which equates to 2 million pound or RM10 million a week, a wage that’s rather difficult to finish fast if you’re training on the pitch most of the time.
So, when the Covid 19 pandemic hit the globe including the football arena where every sports activity came to a halt, clubs felt the full brunt of the impact. They had to postpone matches, refund tickets and continue paying staffs, causing financial burden never before experienced by the clubs, due to tight contracts with players, they were obliged to pay the wages despite loss of income from broadcasting rights. Club owners were waiting for the celebrity players to come up and offer the salary cuts themselves, Seria A in Italy, Bundesliga of Germany and the Spanish League saw their players offering pay cuts until the outbreak is over and till the games resume. However, the richest league in the world which earns billions in broadcasting rights, the English Premier League where players are known to earn obscene amount of money are keeping mum on the situation.
Looks like when it comes to philanthropy its a vegetable no one wants to take up, its sad to see the Football Association has to step in and assist the clubs. Discussion is currently on going for a 30% cut across the league, Bundesliga and Spanish League have committed 70-50%. An average players salary in the English Premier League is 3 million pounds a year, but a top flight player like Manchester City’s Raheem Sterling or Tottenham’s Harry Kane earn 2-3x more. Clubs are resorting to unconventional ways to keep afloat during these trying times, including public funds (for those listed) and government handouts but sees the funds being inadequate and will have to chop overheads.
A league and players who don the jersey of their club steeped with legacy, playing 90 minutes tirelessly, sweating out for their fans and club, have just shown to the world what really matters most to them. These are unprecedented circumstances, and we need humankind to show it can come together for the betterment of its nation, people and the world. A good example needs to be set, and EPL is currently running on deficit.
