La Liga champions FC Barcelona, on Thursday, said they are slashing salaries to counter the financial fall-out from the global pandemic, although the Spanish giants did not specify if all of its employees would be affected by the move.
All football has been suspended in Spain where the virus has so far killed more than 4,000 people with 56,000 confirmed cases.
"The suspension of competitions, following the epidemic, entails the cessation of all activities, sporting and non-sporting, of our club," said a statement released by Barcelona.
The club, it added, had taken a "series of measures to mitigate its effects and reduce the economic consequences of this crisis."
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"Essentially, it is a reduction in the working day, forced by the circumstances, and consequently a proportional reduction in the remuneration provided for in the respective contracts."
The Catalan club did not specify, however, the scale of the cuts or if all of its employees are affected.
Moreover, clubs in England and Germany have adapted a similar approach. The loss of match-day revenue has hit clubs hard, particularly in the three divisions below the Premier League, and raised the prospect of clubs asking players to accept wage deferrals.
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According to reports, Birmingham have become the first Championship team to do so, seeking approval from players earning more than £6,000 a week to take a temporary 50 percent cut.
"As with other industries, the current crisis is having a severe impact on the finances of the game," said a PFA statement.
"Several clubs have already approached players with a view to imposing pay deferrals.
"In order to deal with this situation, we have called for an urgent meeting with both the Premier League and the EFL."
Players at Bayern Munich and other German clubs have reportedly agreed to take pay cuts.
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Feature image courtesy: AFP / Filippo Monteforte
