FC Barcelona players refusing to take a pay cut


FC Barcelona players refusing to take a pay cut
LIONEL MESSI

FC Barcelona players have rejected the proposals for pay cut for this season. The main reason for the pay cut is the drastic reduction in the finances of the club due to Coronavirus. Moreover, since fans won’t be allowed into the stadium for some more time, the finances look bleak.

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Players backed by Spanish Footballers Association

BARTOMEU

The players had taken a pay cut of 70% last season from March to June due to the pandemic. However, the club are still in loss even after offloading Suarez, Vidal and Rakitic from the wage bill. They also couldn’t sign any of their major targets during the transfer window. In addition, Bartomeu is under significant pressure to resign after reporting losses of 97 million Euros and for his ill handling of the club.

So to fix this situation, Bartomeu wants to bring a 30% pay cut for all the players and staff. Moreover, Pique, Lenglet, Ter Stegen and De Jong have seemingly agreed to this while signing their new contract. Despite this, the other players including Messi are against the move as the club hasn’t formally discussed with them. Hence, the players have sent a Burofax to club rejecting the proposal.

The Spanish Footballers Association has backed the players and said, “This procedure, in our opinion, suffers from serious formal defects. A negotiating table has been set up to discuss the measures to be adopted and the players are not represented as they have not been eligible in the elections of the committee. It is our duty to request that the club reverse this process and initiate, if it is deemed necessary, a dialogue with the professional footballers through the established legal channels.”

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The club in a statement agreed to hear the players out and said, “The club’s aim is to reach an agreement with its entire workforce, which will go through a joint solution of temporary, gradual, proportional, and specific salary adjustment for each of the groups. All of this will surely help meet this season’s budget and lay the groundwork for the challenges ahead once this global health crisis is over.”

Also read :FC Barcelona renew the contracts of four players