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Post by rugbytoffee on Apr 1, 2020 10:19:58 GMT
The PFA will meet with both Premier League and EFL officials on Wednesday to discuss player wages and whether they can agree a deferral of salaries during the current crisis.
On the agenda will be the suggestion of a collective agreement to cover all players from the Premier League to League Two, however the issue is a complex one with the varying levels of salaries involved.
Newcastle, Norwich and Tottenham and a high number of EFL clubs have announced that many non-playing staff have been furloughed in order to take up the benefits of the government financial scheme to preserve jobs.
A number of club owners and chairmen are warning that a wage deferral is inevitable if clubs are to get through the current situation and survive the financial burden.
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Post by rugbytoffee on Apr 3, 2020 15:21:03 GMT
The Premier League have released a fresh statement regarding the current situation surrounding the coronavirus pandemic, insisting they will only return when safe to do so. Pledges were also made to held fund the EFL and National League with clubs struggling for revenue with no games being played. A recent hot topic has been wage deferrals for Premier League players and the statement announced they would approach everyone about taking a 30 per cent wage cut.
A restart date no earlier than April 30 has also been pushed back with games unlikely to start again before the beginning of May.
A potential return is expected to be under constant review with dialogue to be had with the government on a regular basis.
Season restart
It was acknowledged that the Premier League will not resume at the beginning of May – and that the 2019/20 season will only return when it is safe and appropriate to do so.
The restart date is under constant review with all stakeholders, as the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic develops and we work together through this very challenging time.
The Premier League is working closely with the whole of professional football in this country, as well as with the Government, public agencies and other relevant stakeholders to ensure the game achieves a collaborative solution.
With this, there is a combined objective for all remaining domestic league and cup matches to be played, enabling us to maintain the integrity of each competition.
However, any return to play will only be with the full support of Government and when medical guidance allows.
The sporting and financial implications for Premier League clubs as well as for The FA, EFL and National League were considered at today’s meeting
Consulting players
In the face of substantial and continuing losses for the 2019/20 season since the suspension of matches began, and to protect employment throughout the professional game, 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.
This guidance will be kept under constant review as circumstances change.
The League will be in regular contact with the PFA and the union will join a meeting which will be held tomorrow between the League, players and club representatives.
Solidarity with clubs below PL
Discussions also took place regarding financial relief for clubs in the short term and while there is no single solution, measures are to be put in place to immediately deal with the impact of falling cash flow.
Critically, the League unanimously voted to advance funds of £125 million to the EFL and National League as it is aware of the severe difficulties clubs throughout the football pyramid are suffering at this time
Supporting NHS
Further to that assistance, the League remains committed to supporting the National Health Service, its staff and helping people in communities, not least those who are most vulnerable.
The League, clubs, players and managers express huge appreciation for the heroic efforts of NHS staff and all other key workers who are carrying out critical jobs in such difficult circumstances.
In consultation with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, the Premier League is immediately committing £20 million to support the NHS, communities, families and vulnerable groups during the COVID-19 pandemic.
This includes a direct financial contribution to the NHS and funds to enable clubs to refocus their efforts and develop significant outreach programmes to help communities, including those most in need.
This funding will enable both immediate and longer-term support during the crisis.
This includes a direct financial contribution to the NHS and funds to enable clubs to refocus their efforts and develop significant outreach programmes to help communities, including those most in need.
This funding will enable both immediate and longer-term support during the crisis.
Supporting clubs’ community work
In response to COVID-19, Premier League clubs have been supporting tens of thousands of people in their communities each and every day through targeted activity including donations to foodbanks, telephone calls to the elderly, food parcels delivered to the vulnerable and a wide range of free resources to support wellbeing and education.
Many Premier League clubs are also working closely with their local NHS Trusts to provide valuable support through the provision of resources, volunteers and facilities.
Now, more than ever, clubs are playing a vital role to support the wellbeing of those in their communities and alleviate pressure on critical health services.
Promoting public health messages
Working closely with the Department of Health and Social Care, Public Health England and the NHS, the wide reach and appeal of the Premier League and our clubs will continue to be used to promote important public health messaging throughout this crisis.
The Premier League would like to reiterate that the thoughts of all our clubs are with all those directly affected by COVID-19.
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Post by rugbytoffee on Apr 7, 2020 18:00:43 GMT
FIFA has approved the extension of player contracts until seasons are able to finish, with the coronavirus pandemic also seeing transfer window dates moved this summer.
Football's world governing body has been working on recommendations and guidelines to address practical issues brought by the Covid-19 crisis.
The bureau of the FIFA council on Tuesday endorsed a set of principles agreed upon by a taskforce exploring the issue, with contracts and transfer windows key topics.
FIFA said: "It is proposed that contracts be extended until such time that the season does actually end", while deals due to come into force in the next campaign would be "delayed until the next season actually does start".
The governing body also said "it is necessary to adjust the normal regulatory position to the new factual circumstances" when it comes to transfer windows.
A statement from the governing body read: "Accordingly, FIFA will be flexible and will allow the relevant transfer windows to be moved so they fall between the end of the old season and the start of the new season.
"At the same time, FIFA will try to ensure, where possible, an overall level of coordination and will also bear in mind the need to protect the regularity, integrity and proper functioning of competitions, so that the sporting results of any competition are not unfairly disrupted."
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Post by Avinalaff on Apr 7, 2020 23:50:25 GMT
FIFA has approved the extension of player contracts until seasons are able to finish, with the coronavirus pandemic also seeing transfer window dates moved this summer. Football's world governing body has been working on recommendations and guidelines to address practical issues brought by the Covid-19 crisis. The bureau of the FIFA council on Tuesday endorsed a set of principles agreed upon by a taskforce exploring the issue, with contracts and transfer windows key topics. FIFA said: "It is proposed that contracts be extended until such time that the season does actually end", while deals due to come into force in the next campaign would be "delayed until the next season actually does start". The governing body also said "it is necessary to adjust the normal regulatory position to the new factual circumstances" when it comes to transfer windows. A statement from the governing body read: "Accordingly, FIFA will be flexible and will allow the relevant transfer windows to be moved so they fall between the end of the old season and the start of the new season. "At the same time, FIFA will try to ensure, where possible, an overall level of coordination and will also bear in mind the need to protect the regularity, integrity and proper functioning of competitions, so that the sporting results of any competition are not unfairly disrupted." Why would clubs want to extend contracts, given most that end are players they're trying to get off their books?
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Post by rugbytoffee on Apr 13, 2020 12:51:14 GMT
A growing number of Premier League clubs believe their games will be played behind closed doors if and when competitive action returns this season.
The Premier League's director of football, Richard Garlick along with the league's medical advisor Mark Gillett, are liaising with clubs on a regular basis on player welfare and what could realistically be expected of players if and when the season resumes. Meanwhile, the FA is offering both Wembley and St George's Park as venues to finish the Premier League season, should the league make the request. Reports had suggested both venues could be used as part of a 'Festival of Football' to accommodate the completion of the 2019/20 season.
The use of the venues, in particular St George's Park, would offer the ability to play a number of games on the same day and, having a 228-room hotel on site, a place for players and officials to stay in one place and mitigate travelling. The Premier League has been considering the possibility of playing games behind closed doors and the complex would be ideally placed geographically to accommodate such a decision.
More Premier League clubs are this week expected to announce agreements with players over wage deferrals and wage cuts.
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