PFA Scotland represents footballers from across the country, including those at Rangers, and have sent an open letter to SPFL clubs urging them to take up government wage initiatives.
The players’ union referenced the special Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme which will see the government pay 80% of furloughed staff’s wages up to the value of £2500.
The letter also includes guidance on contracts and warns clubs not to use the coronavirus outbreak and resultant lockdown as an opportunity to terminate players’ contracts.
“PFA Scotland encourages clubs to urgently take advice on accessing the wide range of emergency measures announced by the Chancellor last week,” reads the letter.
“(And to) apply for support from the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme.
“The union considers that clubs should be placing players on full pay furlough leave effective from March 13, 2020 enabling them to re-claim 80 per cent of wage costs of up to the £2,500 per month for each player.
“Clubs must not and should not be unilaterally imposing contractual changes such as wage cuts.
“Further, the pandemic cannot and should not be used as a reason for terminating contracts – time-consuming and costly litigation in the civil courts and disputes before the League will not be in anyone’s interests at this difficult time.”
The advice comes as football clubs across Scotland announce financial issues concerning the domestic league shutdown.
Hearts have asked all their staff to take a 50% wage cut whilst Aberdeen announced they could lose up to £5m during this difficult period.
Outgoing Rangers chairman Dave King also revealed that planned investment into Ibrox had been put on hold amid the outbreak.
At the centre of this are the players with even the likes of Barcelona and Bayern Munich being forced into wage cuts in their squads.
It’s not the first time PFA Scotland have been outspoken in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak.
The union also wrote to the SPFL to inform them that players must not be forced to play behind closed doors [SPFA].
