FC Barcelona players accept 70% salary reduction

FC Barcelona footballers have accepted the 70% salary reduction proposed by the club, due to the crisis caused by the coronavirus, and have announced that they will make contributions "so that club employees can receive 100% of their salary" during this situation.

All players in the first team have announced this through their various social media profiles. They emphasize that they have always been willing to reduce their salaries, understanding the "exceptional situation" that is being experienced.

"We are the first ones who have always helped the club when asked. We have even done it on our own initiative, in other moments that we deemed necessary or important," the footballers claim.

Therefore, they feel upset because "there were people within the club who tried to scrutinize us and put pressure on us to do something that we had always been clear we would do."

In this regard, they inform that if the agreement has been delayed for a few days, it has been "simply" because they were looking for "a way to help the club and also its players in such difficult times."

"From our part, the time has come to announce that, in addition to the 70% salary reduction during the State of Alarm, we are going to make contributions so that club employees can receive 100% of their salary during this situation," they add.

The footballers insist that before announcing their intentions, they wanted to find "real solutions" to help the club, but also "those who were going to be most affected by this situation."

"We do not want to say goodbye without sending warm greetings and strength to all the culers who are having a hard time in these difficult moments, as well as to all those who patiently await the end of this crisis in their homes. We will soon get through this and we will do it together," they insist in the statement.

The Barça board added more details to the agreement, which has also been accepted by the members of all professional sports teams and "the majority of the basketball team."

"In the case of the men's football first team, the reduction will be higher than the initial 70% proposed by the club. This additional contribution from the players, plus the contribution that the club will make, will ensure 100% of the salaries of all non-sports staff, who will be subject to a Temporary Employment Regulation File (ERTE) this week," the statement ensures.

The club wants to thank "the involvement of all its professional athletes, in an exceptional situation like the one generated as a result of this health crisis."