Filip Kostic of Eintracht Frankfurt exercises indoors as the Bundesliga is suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic, March 17, 2020. /VCG
Filip Kostic of Eintracht Frankfurt exercises indoors as the Bundesliga is suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic, March 17, 2020. /VCG
Footballers at Germany's top teams including Bayern Munich have agreed to take pay cuts to help clubs survive the economic impact of the coronavirus.
Newspaper Bild on Tuesday said players and club officials at champions Bayern, top of the Bundesliga when the season was halted on March 13, have accepted a 20 percent cut in their salaries.
Like all top European leagues, the German top flight is losing income from broadcasting, sponsorships and ticket sales during the COVID-19 pandemic, with matches in Germany suspended until at least April 2.
Fans of Bayern Munich display a tifo prior to the Bundesliga match between FC Bayern Muenchen and FC Augsburg in Munich, Germany, March 8, 2020. /VCG
Fans of Bayern Munich display a tifo prior to the Bundesliga match between FC Bayern Muenchen and FC Augsburg in Munich, Germany, March 8, 2020. /VCG
Bayern have a massive wage bill which reached 336 million euros (364 million U.S. dollars) last year, almost half of club turnover.
Players at Borussia Moenchengladbach were the first in the Bundesliga to propose a pay cut, followed by others at Werder Bremen, Schalke 04 and Borussia Dortmund. Bayer Leverkusen players are in talks over pay cut proposals with management.
Second-placed Dortmund said their squad members had taken a salary reduction to show solidarity with the club's 850 employees.
Coach Lucien Favre and club directors have also made a personal offer to take a pay cut.
Source(s): AFP