Danny Rose has blasted the criticism which Premier League footballers have received for not taking a wage cut amidst the financial distress caused by the coronavirus pandemic.
Tottenham are one of the few Premier League clubs along with the likes of Liverpool and Newcastle to have placed some of their staff on the government’s furlough scheme in light of football’s suspension in the UK (Guardian).
The UK’s Secretary of State for Health, Matt Hancock is one of many high-profile people to have called for top flight footballers to sacrifice some of their wages to prevent clubs seeking to use tax payer money for those being placed on leave. (Metro).
Rose, who is currently on-loan at Newcastle, insisted that those outside the game have little right to criticise footballers.
The England international, who has already donated £19,000 to North Middlesex University Hospital revealed that he was in conversation with Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson over setting up a scheme to contribute to the NHS to aid their fight against COVID-19.
Speaking to BBC Radio 5 Live’s Friday Night Club (as relayed by The Mirror), Rose said: “Seeing comments from people at the House of Parliament, we sort of feel our backs are against the wall.
“Conversations were being had before people outside of football were commenting. I just got off the phone to Jordan Henderson, and he’s working so hard trying to come up with something.
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“It was just not needed for people who are not involved in football trying to tell footballers what to do with their money. I found that so bizarre.”
The 29-year-old also confirmed that he is more than willing to take a wage-cut.
He added: “I can only speak for myself, but I have no problems whatsoever contributing any of my wages to people who are fighting this on the front line, and to people who have been affected by what’s happening at the minute.”
Spurs Web Opinion
Footballers do sometimes make easy targets for public scorn in situations like this. In reality, they represent a small fraction of the millionaires in the UK and it is unfair to put an undue burden on them just because they have a public persona.
However, there is no doubt that players should be stepping up and taking a cut to ensure that non-playing staff at their own clubs don’t have to suffer during this crisis.
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