Barca players agree 70% wage cut, Messi says they were always going to
March 31 – Barcelona’s players have agreed to take a 70% pay cut so that the club’s other employees can earn their full salaries during the coronavirus crisis.
Coronavirus
FIFAgate: Marin given early release to return to Brazil over health fears
March 31 – Jose Maria Marin, 87, is on his way home. Amid health concerns in times of the global coronavirus pandemic, the former Brazilian football supremo has won his release from an American prison, where he was serving a four-year sentence for his role in the FIFAgate scandal.
Newcastle lay off staff, but reportedly keep players on full salaries
March 31 – Newcastle United have reportedly become the first Premier League club to place their non-playing staff on temporary leave because of the coronavirus pandemic.
60 non-league clubs protest to English FA over ‘inexplicable haste’ at ending season
By Andrew Warshaw
March 31 – More than 60 non-league clubs from across English football have sent a joint letter to the country’s FA in protest at the decision to close the season down, with all results declared null and void, because of Covid-19.
Vodka, saunas and Premier League football are Belarus’ ‘best anti-virus remedy’
By Andrew Warshaw
March 30 – Last league standing? Football may have ground to a halt in almost every corner of the world – but not in Belarus.
Ceferin warns that European club season could be ‘lost’ if it can’t restart by end-June
March 30 – UEFA president Aleksander Ceferin says the current season “will probably be lost” if it cannot be restarted by the end of June.
Kane keen to return to work, but for how much longer with Spurs?
March 30 – England captain Harry Kane says the Premier League season should be ditched altogether if it cannot be completed by the end of June.
Aussie FA furloughs 70% of staff as revenues dry up
March 30 – In one of the most radical moves by an individual football association in response to Covid-19, Football Federation Australia (FFA) has temporarily dismissed 70% of its full-time staff.
Juve cut wage bill by €90m as players agree 4-month salary freeze
March 30 – Juventus players and coach Maurizio Sarri have accepted a temporary pay cut to their salaries in a move that is designed to alleviate the financial ramifications of the global coronavirus on the club.
Spanish FA opens up €500m credit line to clubs in LaLiga’s top two divisions
By Samindra Kunti
March 26 – The Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF)has announced a €500 million support plan for Spanish clubs to help with the impending financial fallout of the coronavirus pandemic.
AFC uses stars to launch #BreakTheChain public health campaign
March 26 – The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has harnessed some of its biggest stars to launch its #BreakTheChain public awareness campaign to encourage people from around the world to do their part in the fight to stop the spread of Covid-19.
Union Berlin players waive salaries as Bayern and Dortmund agree wage cuts
March 26 – Union Berlin are the latest German top-flight team to agree to forego their wages because of Covid-19, another example of Bundesliga clubs putting their survival first.
Brighton pledge 1,000 free tickets to health workers, Bournemouth pick up the baton
March 26 – English Premier League Brighton have started an initiative for clubs throughout the country to donate 1,000 tickets whenever football resumes to front-line health workers treating those most seriously affected by Covid-19.