London: English Premier League players failed to reach an agreement on Saturday with clubs to take 30% pay cuts during the coronavirus pandemic, escalating a bitter public row as their union claimed the government would lose out on more than 200 million pounds (around $245 million) in tax.
The PFA said that such a move could have a detrimental effect on the tax contributions which in turn could hurt the United Kingdom's fight against coronavirus.
"The proposed 30 per cent salary deduction over a 12-month period equates to over 500m pound in wage reductions and a loss in tax contributions of over 200m pound to the government. What effect does this loss of earning to the government mean for the NHS? Was this considered in the Premier League proposal and did the Health Secretary, Matt Hancock factor this in when asking players to take a salary cut?" said the PFA in its statement on Sunday.
The PFA also said that the Premier League could increase its 20 million-Pound figure that would go to charitable causes. It also said that a way has to be found for money to go into the lower tiers of English football and non-league football in the long term.
"The EFL money is an advance. Importantly, it will aid cashflow in the immediate, but football needs to find a way to increase funding to the EFL and non-league clubs in the long-term," said the PFA.
"Many clubs require an increase in funding just to survive. We believe in our football pyramid and again stress the need for solidarity between all clubs. Going forward, we are working together to find a solution which will be continually reviewed in order to assess the circumstance of the COVID-19 crisis."
