La Liga president Javier Tebas has said La Liga could resume on 28 May

Cian Richardson – 7 April 2020

PFA chief executive claims Premier League players are prepared to help

The chief executive of Professional Footballers’ Association Gordon Taylor has said Premier League Players are mindful of their social responsibilities” and “prepared to step up to the mark” amid the chaos caused by the coronavirus.

Negotiations over a collective pay cut have been ongoing over the past week and are currently still in progress.

The Premier League and the PFA have locked horns this week over proposed 30% wage cuts for Premier League players, with the PFA claiming the government would lose £200 million in lost tax revenues.

Taylor told BBC Sport “It is a question of asking players to be involved.

“The question needs to come from the clubs and then to open up on the table and say it is not a question of us using your money for purposes you don’t want.”

At this stage, it seems unlikely that the Premier League will be able to come to an agreement over a collective pay cut, but Premier League clubs are expected to individually negotiate with their players over the weekend regarding potential pay cuts.

Gordon Taylor has himself agreed to donate £500,000 to a charity fund set up by Liverpool skipper Jordan Henderson, a quarter of his annual salary.

Furthermore, the PFA have revealed their charity fund will donate £1 million.

Four Premier League teams so far have furloughed non-playing staff as part of the government’s job retention scheme amid the coronavirus pandemic, a decision that has received a lot of criticism online.

So much so in fact, that Liverpool yesterday reversed their decision to furlough their non-playing staff following criticism by former players and even their own fans.

Gordon Taylor has said: “It is not for me to tell clubs how to run their businesses. It is for me to look at the players’ side of things.”

“A football club is an entity involving non-playing staff – they need to look at the position of non-playing staff, the youngsters at clubs, the academies, the community programmes in their own areas and the bigger picture of the national health.

“I can only repeat that the players are mindful of their social responsibilities and they are quite prepared to step up to the mark to deal with it.”

Taylor believes all parties involved “can agree” assuming “full and frank discussions” between owners, clubs and players are held.

Former Arsenal striker Ian Wright has criticized the PFA, claiming they have been “terribly slow to react” and have failed to offer enough support to Premier League players.

“It’s embarrassing. They should be speaking on the frontline – that’s what they are paid for. They are a union.

“The players are paying them to make these decisions. The players shouldn’t have to take these bullets.”

Former England international Chris Sutton joined Wright in his criticism of Gordon Taylor, describing the PFA cheif executive as “out of touch”.

“These are the times you need your union boss and once he again he has let them down. He has waffled,” Sutton said.

“He is out of touch. You can see it in these moments. There is a crisis on in this country and you need a decisive head. It is a huge problem.

“This is what he is paid his vast wages for. He needs to help his members. He is setting this up so the public are turning against them.”

Taylor, though, is determined to see the season finished, which has been backed by most of the footballing world.

He stated that completing the season was “top of the agenda” and continued to say that players “would talk about [wage] deferrals in the hope that we could keep this season going eventually” during current talks.

La Liga could return by late May at the earliest, says league president Javier Tebas

La Liga president Javier Tebas has stated that La Liga could return by 28 May, but has warned that this is a best-case scenario as the league continue discussions about the season.

The last La Liga match to take place was nearly a month ago on 10 March, a 2-1 win for Real Sociedad at Eibar.

Tebas though says training will not resume until emergency measures are lifted in Spain on 26 April.

The La liga president revealed that the league could potentially lose €1 billion if the current campaign is cancelled.

Tebas revealed that UEFA were currently discussing three potential return dates for the return of football in Europe, stating:”Of all the different scenarios we have been looking at with Uefa to go back to competing, the most probable ones are 28 May, 6 June or 28 June.”

“We can’t say an exact date. This will be given to us by the authorities in Spain. But we still have time to get back to training before that.”

Tebas is determined to see the completion of the current domestic campaign and is not considering cancelling it, with 11 rounds of La Liga still to play.

“If we are looking at the economic impact, including the money we would get from European competitions, the revenue Spanish clubs would miss out on if we don’t get back playing again is 1bn euros. If we do get playing but without spectators, it would be 300m.

“Even if we get back to playing with spectators, the damage this situation has already caused would be 150m euros.”

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Former FIFA executives have been accused of accepting bribes

US prosectuors have claimed FIFA executives accepted bribes to vote for Russia and Qatar to host the 2018 and 2022 editions of the FIFA Wolrd Cup.

The FBI have long been looking into corruption in football and a new indictment was unveiled at the US District Court this week.

The documents state that FIFA executive committee members “were offered or received bribes in connection with their votes”.

Thomas Muller signs new Bayern Munich contract

German striker Thomas Muller has signed a two-year contract extension with the Bundesliga champions to stay with the Bavarian club until 2023.

The German international, 30, has played over 500 times and scored 116 league goals for Bayern has won 16 major titles in his 11 years at the club.

Muller said: “This club is not just any old employer for me. It’s my passion.

“I’m happy that I’ll be here for two extra years, and I’ll give everything on and off the pitch.”

Luton Town legend Radomir Antic dies aged 71

Luton Town legend Radomir Antic, who went on to manage Spanish trio Barcelona, Atletico Madrid and Real Madrid, has died at the age of 71.

Antic helped Luton Town to secure the second division title in 1982 as a player.

Antic, who played for Luton for 4 years, scored one of the club’s most famous goals, which helped the club remain in the top-flight at the expene of Manchester City in 1983.

Antic’s best spell as manager came at Atletico Madrid, where he won the La Liga title and the Copa Del Rey in 1996.

The ex-Yugoslavia defender also had a stint as the manager of the Serbian national team.

Antic became only the second person to manage both Barcelona and Real Madrid when he was appointed Barcelona boss in 2003.

Luton Town have commemorated him on social media, saying: “We are devastated to learn of the passing of Town legend Radomir Antic. A true Hatters hero, for promotion and preventing relegation.”

Sunderland and Crewe furlough staff on all levels

Sunderland and Crewe Alexandra have both announced today that they have placed all staff, including players, on the government’s furlough scheme.

Sunderland revealed that their first-team, academy and backroom staff are included in this, but stress that all of their staff will be paid in full.

The club went on to say that they have no intention to reduce or defer salaries at this time.

Crewe Alexandra have revealed that they will run on a skeleton staff basis, at least until personnel are able to safely return to work.

The club said that the decision was made in order “to protect the long-term financial viability of the football club”.

St Mirren today have joined Sunderland and Crew Alexandra in furloughing playing and non-playing staff alike.

There is a real risk that football could “lose clubs and leagues”

FA chairman Greg Clarke has admitted English football faces “the danger of losing clubs and leagues” during economics troubles “beyond the wildest imagination”.

Clarke has said: “Many communities could lose the clubs at their heart with little chance of resurrection.

“In the face of this unprecedented adversity, all the stakeholders within the game from players, fans, clubs, owners and administrators need to step up and share the pain to keep the game alive.

“It is time for the stakeholders to agree common cause to save our game. Contribute. Football is a team game and now is the time for teamwork.”

FIFA say transfer window will be moved and contracts ending on 30 June will be extended

FIFA confirm that the summer transfer window will be moved whilst contracts due to end on 30 June are set to be extended for a short time period.

FIFA’s Bureau of Council approved new proposals with major stakeholders today after they reached an agreement about a way forward.

Many players face the prospect of having their contracts expire on 30 June, before the season ends.

It has now been agreed that these players’ contracts will automatically be extended until the season is over, whilst the new contracts will starting before the start of the 2020/21 season.

FIFA have said: “It is now obvious that the current season will not end when people thought it would.”

“Therefore, it is proposed that contracts be extended until such time that the season does actually end.

“A similar principle applies to contracts due to begin when the new season starts, meaning the entry into force of such contracts is delayed until the next season actually does start.

“It is also necessary to adjust the normal regulatory position to the new factual circumstances.

“Accordingly, Fifa will be flexible and allow the relevant transfer windows to be moved so they fall between the end of the old season and the start of the new season.”

Spurs players reminded of responsibilities regarding amid the coronavirus lockdown

Tottenham Hotspur have reiterated that their players act as role models and were reminded of their responsibilities as social media posts appear to reveal some players breaking social-distancing rules.

A statement from Spurs said: “All of our players have been reminded to respect social distancing when exercising outdoors.

“We shall continue to reinforce this message.”

This comes after it was revealed manager Jose Mourinho was pictured holding a training session with Tanguy Ndombele on Hadley Common, whilst Davinson Sanchez and Ryan were caught running together in a London park.

Transfer Rumours:

Standard – Manchester United are becoming increasingly confident of signing Englad international Jadon Sancho from Borussia Dortmund this summer

Football Insider – Wolves have no plans to sell star winger Adama Traore this summer for less than £70 million. The player has been linked with a move to Liverpool

Goal – Liverpool, Manchester City and Manchester United have all enquired about Valencia forward Ferran Torres

Sun – Liverpool, Arsenal and Manchester City are all interested in signing Lyon midfielder Houssem Aouar

Express – Liverpool are considering making a double swoop for Borussia Monchengladbach pair Marcus Thuram and Denis Zakaria