March 20 – Players, coaches and directors of German top-flight club Borussia Monchengladbach, who sit fourth in the table, have agreed to defer their wages to help less advantaged employees in football’s latest humanitarian gesture to counter Covid-19 .
On Wednesday the German Football Association (DFB) said the national team would donate €2.5m million to help fight the coronavirus crisis in the country.
But Borussia are the first professional club in Germany at which staff have voluntarily offered to sacrifice part of their salary.
In an interview on Monchengladbach’s official website, sporting director Max Eberl said the players were unanimous in their decision.
“I didn’t have to explain much. The players know what’s going on. The team has offered to forego salary if it can help the club and its employees,” he said.
“I am very proud of the boys. Clear signal: We stand together for Borussia, in good times and in bad. They want to give something back to Borussia and also to all the fans who support us.
“The coaching staff joined in, just like our directors and managing directors. These are difficult times and they require special measures.”
Gladbach managing director Stephan Schippers hinted German domestic games could take place behind closed doors to ensure the season is completed.
“The goal is for Borussia Monchengladbach to survive this corona crisis and to do that without having to give notice of termination to anyone. In order to achieve this we will all have to work hard together,” Schippers said.
“We expect loss of revenue due to game cancellations, lack of viewer revenue, possibly lost TV revenue and lack of sponsorship money. We all agree Bundesliga football without spectators is not what we want.”
“But for the next few weeks and months we have to realise that only a continuation of the Bundesliga games – without spectators – should enable many clubs to survive economically.”
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