Professional football reinvests a large amount of revenue on sporting potential. This financial model is now coming under pressure on a global basis, particularly in small and mid-sized leagues. We are committed to doing our utmost to support player unions and professional footballers in this situation.
During such an unprecedented period, FIFPRO will employ extra resources in order to further step up our efforts to support players, and provide them with extra legal advice, mental health support and second-career planning.
While we are encouraged by football stakeholder cooperation at an international level, we are extremely concerned that a significant number of clubs, in more than half a dozen countries, have begun to immediately lay off players or unilaterally reduce their salaries.
We call on clubs with short-term financial difficulties to meet with national player unions to negotiate fair and proportionate arrangements which respect their legal obligations, and equally address the interests of both employer and employee.
At a time of such a significant social crisis, solutions must be found with everybody’s contribution. Most football players outside the world’s biggest leagues are earning at the same level or below average domestic income and would be severely affected by salary decreases.
