Paris -
Following in the footsteps of their European counterparts, will the PSG players be willing to see their salaries reduced to help their club get out of the economic crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic?
"We will try to help in any way we can," confessed PSG's Spanish forward Pablo Sarabia to AFP.
"The captains are discussing it right now, we will try to help PSG, the country, and the world," said the 27-year-old Spanish international in a video call interview.
"Negotiations are underway. We'll see when they reach a positive outcome," confirmed a PSG executive, contacted by AFP. The French giant's wage bill is estimated at 337 million euros, which is more than half of the budget.
Players from several European clubs who are still in the Champions League have agreed to make this effort, such as Juventus, Real Madrid, and Bayern Munich.
The squads of Atlético de Madrid and FC Barcelona have accepted a 70% reduction in their salaries while the state of emergency is in effect.
In France, the leaders and players of Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 reached an agreement last Tuesday, "inviting" a "provisional" reduction in salaries to preserve the clubs' cash flow amidst the health crisis, an initiative from the players' union (UNFP).
Initially, the players will receive their wages at the end of the season, at the time of the payment of TV rights, currently frozen by broadcasters Canal+ and beIN Sports.
This temporary reduction, in addition to the cost-saving measures taken thanks to the implementation of partial unemployment by the government, will be calculated based on a progressive scale.
Players earning less than 10,000 euros within the framework of partial unemployment, 70% of their gross monthly salary, will not be affected by the measure.
There will be four bands above that: a 20% reduction in remuneration in April for those earning between 10,000 and 20,000 euros; 30% less for those earning between 20,000 and 50,000 euros; 40% for those earning between 50,000 and 100,000 euros; and 50% less for those earning more than 100,000 euros per month.
However, at the moment it is only a recommendation; according to labor law, "no one can be forced to adhere," explains a UNFP executive, although he stated that the "vast majority will not oppose" this agreement. (D)