Premier League
ENGLISH PREMIERSHIP PLAYERS KICK AGAINST WAGE CUT
The Professional Footballers’ Association, the union representing English Premier League footballers, has warned of a £200 million (S$353 million) shortfall for British government coffers if a sweeping cut in wages is introduced to offset the financial fallout from the coronavirus pandemic.
In the past few days, clubs and players’ representatives have been in talks over a combination of pay cuts and deferrals amounting to 30 percent of their annual salary.
However, an agreement has yet to be reached, with the Athletic yesterday reporting that most players will only accept a deferral in wages.
The sports website also said another sticking point is an unwillingness to take on extra media duties.
Clubs have asked their players to fulfil more off-field commitments to give rights holders content in the absence of games – something that they are reluctant to do “out of principle”, especially if wage cuts or deferrals are imposed.
The PFA also feels it is far too simplistic to lambast multi-millionaire footballers for not agreeing to sacrifice their pay.
The proposed 30 per cent salary deduction over a 12-month period equates to over £500 million in wage reductions and a loss in tax contributions of over £200 million to the government.
“What effect does this loss of earning to the government mean for the National Health Service (NHS)?” the PFA said in a statement. “All Premier League players want to, and will, play their part in making significant financial contributions in these unprecedented times.
“We welcomed the opportunity to discuss this with the Premier League and we are happy to continue talks.”
The highly charged issue will continue to take centre stage even as Britain grapples with Covid-19 after Liverpool on Saturday night became the latest club to put some of their non-playing staff on furlough.
The decision by the Premier League leaders, who are just two wins shy of their first English title in 30 years and in February announced pre-tax profits of £42 million in the 2018-19 season, has drawn heavy criticism from former Anfield favourites.
Under the scheme, which Newcastle, Tottenham, Bournemouth and Norwich have already signed up for, the British government will pay 80 per cent of wages, but some of Liverpool’s former stalwarts have been left far from impressed.
“(Manager) Jurgen Klopp showed compassion for all at the start of this pandemic… Then all that respect and goodwill is lost, poor this,” tweeted former defender Jamie Carragher. His former teammate Dietmar Hamann called the decision “contrary to the morals and values of the club”.
“Astonished by the news Liverpool takes advantage of the furlough scheme,” he tweeted. “That’s not what it was designed for.”
While British society debates over Premier League clubs and players not showing enough empathy with the less privileged, Wayne Rooney yesterday stood up for his fellow professionals, insisting they were “easy targets”.
There have been multiple reports of footballers like Marcus Rashford and Jordan Henderson giving back to society, while England manager Gareth Southgate has also reportedly taken a 30 per cent pay cut.
On helping out the less fortunate, Rooney, the former England captain and Manchester United striker, said he had both the means and will to make financial contributions, but felt the public pressure being exerted on his peers was unhelpful.
“If the government approached me to help support nurses financially or to buy ventilators, I’d be proud to do so – as long as I knew where the money was going,” he wrote in The Times of London.
“I’m in a place where I could give something up. Not every footballer is in the same position… Why are we suddenly the scapegoats?
“How the past few days have played out is a disgrace. In my opinion, it is now a no-win situation.”
Pundit Gary Lineker agreed with Rooney, claiming footballers were being “picked on”. He told the BBC: “Nobody seems to talk about the bankers, the chief executive officers, huge millionaires. Are they standing up? Are they being asked to stand up? We don’t know.”
AFP, Reuters
England and Manchester United defender Harry Maguire has been handed a 15-month suspended prison sentence by a Greek court over a 2020 incident in Mykonos, Sky Sports reported on Wednesday.
In 2020, Maguire was found guilty of repeated bodily harm, attempted bribery and violence against public employees after his arrest in a brawl in which two police officers were assaulted.
Maguire, who was detained for two days following the incident and denied any wrongdoing, was handed a suspended prison sentence of 21 months and 10 days but was granted a full retrial after appealing against Greek court convictions on multiple charges.
In accordance with the Greek judicial process, the filing nullified Maguire’s conviction before a full retrial in a more senior court. His retrial was postponed many times.
Maguire faced allegations of non-serious assault, resisting arrest and attempted bribery. The 32-year-old was convicted on all three counts but will face no prison time. His legal team will appeal against the guilty verdict, Sky Sports reported.
Maguire’s brother Joe and friend Christopher Sharman were also found guilty of offences related to the incident and received suspended prison sentences in 2020. They also denied any wrongdoing.
-Reuters
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
Arsenal maintained control of the Premier League title race as they chiselled out a nervy 2-1 win over London rivals Chelsea to open up a five-point lead at the top of the table on Sunday.
Jurrien Timber’s 66th-minute header from a Declan Rice corner ensured Arsenal took three precious points, but it was a nervy afternoon in north London.
Mikel Arteta’s side moved to 64 points from 29 games, with Manchester City, who have played a game fewer, on 59.
Arsenal’s Jurrien Timber celebrates scoring their second goal with Gabriel Magalhaes REUTERS/Jaimi Joy
Defender William Saliba had given Arsenal the lead in the 21st minute from a trademark corner routine.
But it had looked as though an own goal by Piero Hincapie just before halftime would prove costly for the hosts until Timber came to their rescue.
Chelsea, whose six-match unbeaten league sequence under new manager Liam Rosenior was halted, ended the match with 10 men after Pedro Neto was sent off for a second yellow card.
-Reuters
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
Premier League
Manchester United climb to third in Premier League table with come-from-behind win over Palace
Manchester United produced a stirring second-half comeback to defeat Crystal Palace 2–1 at Old Trafford on Sunday, with captain Bruno Fernandes inspiring the turnaround that lifted the hosts into third place in the Premier League standings.
Trailing inside four minutes after a dominant start by Palace, United responded through a Fernandes penalty before his pinpoint free-kick was headed home by Benjamin Sesko to seal victory against the 10-man visitors.
The win extended interim manager Michael Carrick’s unbeaten run to seven matches since taking charge in mid-January. United now have 51 points from 28 games and are unbeaten since the January 5 dismissal of Ruben Amorim, climbing into third for the first time since May 2023. Palace remain 14th on 35 points.
“It feels like a big result, we were behind and had to show some character,” Fernandes told Sky Sports. “There are a lot of games to go still, and it is important that we don’t feel that we are in the position that we need to be. We need to make as many points as we can.”
Palace, under Oliver Glasner, were electric in the opening half hour, capitalising on sluggish United play. Defender Maxence Lacroix powered home a header from a corner after muscling past Leny Yoro, scoring the earliest goal United have conceded this season.
The visitors nearly doubled their advantage when Daniel Munoz latched onto an Ismaila Sarr through ball, but goalkeeper Senne Lammens produced a crucial save.
United gradually found their rhythm before the break. Sesko forced Dean Henderson into action with a header from a Fernandes cross, and the Palace keeper also tipped a Fernandes free kick over the bar.
The turning point arrived in the 57th minute when Fernandes converted from the penalty spot after Matheus Cunha was dragged down by Lacroix. Following a lengthy VAR review, Lacroix was shown a red card, reducing Palace to 10 men.
Eight minutes later, Fernandes’ delivery again proved decisive as Sesko rose highest to nod home the winning goal.
United pushed for a third, with Casemiro’s volley drawing a diving save from Henderson and substitute Amad Diallo testing the keeper from distance in stoppage time. Joshua Zirkzee saw efforts blocked, while Kobbie Mainoo’s fierce strike drifted narrowly wide.
Carrick praised his team’s resilience. “The biggest thing for us to take from the game is really the first time that we have been in that situation going in at halftime,” he said. “Being in that position and how we react and showing that personality and belief… to then come back as we did in the second half is the biggest thing for me today.”
Palace pressed late but could not find an equaliser. Glasner admitted his side had let the game slip. “It feels like there was more possible today. A great first 30 minutes, but the red card changed it completely. The second goal just happened too quickly.”
For United, the victory reinforces growing belief under Carrick that a top-four finish—and a return to Europe’s elite competition—is firmly within reach.
Join the Sports Village Square channel on WhatsApp: https://whatsapp.com/channel/0029Vaz7mEIGk1FxU8YIXb0H
- WAFCON4 days ago
BREAKING: CAF Postpones WAFCON 2026
- OBITUARY5 days ago
Nigerian Sports Journalism Mourns Oyeniyi Oyeleke and Tonex Chukwu
- MLS1 week ago
Trump to Host Lionel Messi and Inter Miami at the White House
- World Cup5 days ago
‘I really don’t care’ if Iran plays in World Cup, Trump tells Politico
- World Cup4 days ago
Iraq’s World Cup Playoff in Doubt as War Disrupts Travel and Visa Processing
- FA Cup2 days ago
Eze thunderbolt guides Arsenal past Mansfield into FA Cup quarter-finals
- MLS3 days ago
Trump celebrates Messi
- World Cup3 days ago
World Cup 2026: U-20 World Cup Winner Ouahbi Takes Charge of Morocco’s Atlas Lions