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.
Europe
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.
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.
English FA tells WSL clubs there is no Covid-19 support as fears clubs could fold
March 30 – The English FA has informed clubs in both the Women’s Super League and Women’s Championship that they will not receive any financial support from the governing body during the coronavirus lockdown. The FA, however, remains committed to completing the season.
European Leagues boss Olsson warns clubs face bankruptcy if seasons can’t finish
By Andrew Warshaw
March 27 – The head of the umbrella body representing over 30 European leagues has warned again that medium-sized and smaller clubs could go out of business if the game is shut down for too long as a result of Covid-19.
Club fury as English FA ends lower league seasons with all results annulled
By Andrew Warshaw
March 27 – Whilst the professional game in England clings to the hope of completing the season, the game at non-league and grassroots level has been officially wound up. Or rather, most of it.
Bundesliga solidarity: Germany’s CL clubs share €20m of UEFA TV money
March 27 – As the English Premier League ponders whether to restart the season at some point, Germany’s top clubs have a more pressing priority – donating €20 million as a gesture to struggling cash-strapped teams lower down.
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.
Crumbling pyramid: English ‘feeder’ leagues debate whether to end seasons immediately
By Andrew Warshaw
March 25 – The English football pyramid below the four main leagues are at loggerheads over whether to shut the season down totally due to Covid-19.
LaLiga keeps up fundraising initiatives with global online music fest
March 25 – Last weekend Spain’s LaLiga hosted an esports competition played between players from its top clubs to raise funds for the battle against the coronavirus. This weekend it is running a global online music concert.
Bundesliga rights tender pushed back as Germans moot playing behind closed doors
March 25 – The suspension of Bundesliga and Bundesliga 2 until at least April 30 has also had a knock on effect for its media rights tenders.
Messi and Guardiola donate €1m each to fight coronavirus
March 25 – Barcelona superstar Lionel Messi and Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola have each donated €1 million towards the fight against coronavirus.