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Premier League to consult players on 30 percent wage cut

London, Apr 3 (efe-epa).- The Premier League will consult its players on a possible 30 percent wage cut and said English top-flight football would not resume until it was deemed safe to do so.

The organization did not give a restart date but said it was in constant review with its shareholders, according to a statement Friday.

“It was acknowledged that the Premier League will not resume at the beginning of May – and that the 2019/20 season will only return when it is safe and appropriate to do so,” it said.

The Premier League said it would consult with its players to take a 30 percent pay cut in both reductions and deferrals in order to buffer against the loss of money resulting from the suspension of matches during the health crisis.

Such a move would help retain jobs in the league, the organization said.

It added that a sum of around 125 million pounds ($152 million) would be made available to the English Football League and the National League to help smaller clubs in England’s lower tiers survive the financial impact of the coronavirus.

All fixtures in English professional football were suspended on 13 March.

In the statement, the Premier League said it would commit a 20 million pound donation to the country’s vulnerable communities and the National Health Service to help in the campaign against Covid-19, which has killed 3,604 people in the United Kingdom — some 684 in the last 24 hours.

Media reports earlier said Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson had reached out to fellow Premier League captains to set up a fund to help with the NHS, a day after a debate emerged when Health Secretary Matt Hancock criticized football players for not taking a pay cut.

“This funding will enable both immediate and longer-term support during the crisis,” the Premier League said.

It said member clubs had already been working with their local communities, donating to foodbanks and to local NHS Trusts.

“Now, more than ever, clubs are playing a vital role to support the wellbeing of those in their communities and alleviate pressure on critical health services.”EFE-EPA

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