Toby Alderweireld’s agent has further escalated the row over player wages by insisting that stars are within their rights to leave clubs if owners decide to cut their pay.
The controversy has been dragging on since the Premier League initially claimed that all clubs had agreed to approach their own playing staff about taking wage cuts or deferrals.
Talks over the proposed cuts reportedly hit a dead-end (The Athletic), and many players were said to be determined to fight the idea (Mirror).
The PFA released a statement last week in which they suggested that reducing player wages will cost the government a substantial sum. This comes as it would mean players contributing less in taxes, which would be detrimental for the NHS.
The players have since come together and launched a collective initiative to help generate funds for the National Health Service (BBC Sport).
Alderweireld’s agent has now suggested that clubs should not be allowed to go back on their contracts if they want their players to respect the terms of the deal.
Speaking to the Guardian, the centre half’s agent, Stijn Francis, said: “A ‘regular’ worker is able to leave his or her employer in exchange for limited compensation or a notice period.
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“Also the employer can terminate the relationship with the worker at any time by respecting a period of notice or paying compensation.
“If clubs sign a player they take a risk by paying a transfer or signing-on fee and by paying substantial wages.
“In exchange for this risk, players cannot leave the club before the end of the contract except when all involved parties agree otherwise.
“Players also know that during the contractual term they can be sure the club will pay their salary.
“Clubs now asking to reduce player salaries undermine this principle of contractual stability.
“If clubs insist on a wage reduction, players should be put in the same situation as any regular worker.
“Clubs reducing their players’ wages should accept that the players can terminate their employment for free and these clubs should no longer be able to ask a transfer fee if the player would like to leave.”
Spurs Web Opinion
Football clubs have seen all their revenue streams completely dry up recently and it is unrealistic for the players to expect to keep picking up their millions despite the extraordinary circumstances we are going through.
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