Source: Keystone
FIFA wants to join in the global discussion about wage cuts for soccer professionals during the coronavirus crisis. Penalties could soon be imposed.
The world association is working on guidelines for clubs and football organizations in order to save costs during the interruption of game operations due to the coronavirus pandemic. This emerges from an internal paper.
In some major leagues, including Germany, Spain and Italy, players have already agreed to temporary wage cuts. In contrast, a public debate has arisen in England. The professionals of the Premier League, the most financially strong football league in the world, rejected a proposed collective wage cut of 30 percent on Saturday – among other things on the grounds that the British state and thus the health service, which was particularly important in the crisis, would lose tax revenue .
New rules provide for “proportionate” cuts
FIFA could try to act as an intermediary in the future. Salary reductions should always be “proportionate”, is what the internal guidelines, which are now at the FIFA Council office, state. Any binding decisions, such as how to deal with contractual disputes as a result of the pandemic in the future, should be made by the latter.
The FIFA Coronavirus Working Group met last week. One of their recommendations is to extend player contracts that are limited to June until the actual end of the currently interrupted championships.
The internal paper shows that the different national labor law situations must be taken into account. Big differences between similar leagues and clubs should be avoided as far as possible.
FIFA could distribute fines
In addition, the group, which includes representatives from FIFA, its member and continental associations, emissaries from the European Club Association (ECA), the players’ union FIFPro and the World League Forum, called on clubs, leagues and players to “make suitable collective agreements ” hold true. This has failed again in England.
According to the FIFA concept, the principles of these agreements should be: «To guarantee players and coaches a form of salary payment, to prevent legal disputes, to ensure contractual stability and to ensure that clubs do not go bankrupt.» At the same time, the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic on clubs should also be considered.
According to the internal proposal, if the clubs and employees could not reach an agreement and at the same time national laws and collective agreements did not cover the situation, amendments to the contract would only be accepted if they were deemed “appropriate” by a corresponding chamber. Violations could also result in fines for FIFA clubs.
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