England boss Gareth Southgate has agreed to a 30 per cent pay cut as pressure rises on Premier League footballers to do the same.
The wage deduction would see the Three Lions manager give up nearly £1million of his £3m salary to help the FA handle the coronavirus crisis amid financial concerns for the governing body.
Players are yet to follow, however, and remain locked in discussions with the Premier League over how best to do their bit.
Pressure has mounted over the past week demanding a response from high-paid stars as an increasing number of top-flight clubs began to furlough non-playing staff, including Liverpool and Tottenham.
UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock called on players to ‘play their part’ and take a pay cut during the crisis.
But the PFA yesterday pointed out that finding the most appropriate way for them to contribute is complicated and takes time.
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The players’ union insists they are keen to help – but a 30% pay cut would result in the government losing as much as £200m in tax contributions, which help fund the NHS.
Nonetheless, Southgate is expected to take the lead and give up almost a third of his salary, with the FA expected to confirm the news next week.
An FA spokesperson told Sky Sports News: “The financial implications of the coronavirus are not yet known however, as a not-for-profit organisation, we want to ensure that we take the appropriate course of action to support the wider organisation and our employees.
‘We will make a further announcement on our next steps in due course.”
