Row grows as Premier League players can't agree on wage cuts

The current attacks on professional footballers in the UK are nothing more than grotesquely cynical attempts to deflect criticism of the catastrophic failure of the Tory government's coronavirus response onto easy targets. The first post on this thread reads like a Daily Mail editorial. The only surprise is that Raheem Sterling doesn't get a mention...

English Premier League players rejected a move Saturday by clubs to cut their wages by 30% during the coronavirus pandemic, escalating a bitter public row as their union claimed the government would lose out on more than 200 million pounds (around $245 million) in tax.

Nonsense! How many of these Premier League players have been caught committing tax evasion? I've seen a fair few stories about that in the papers, and I can't help how many more are doing it without yet being caught.

This is just a cheap tactic to try and take advantage of the Coronavirus crisis in order to protect their multiple homes and their expansive fleets of supercars and all the other junk they buy to flaunt their wealth to the world.

If they really want to help the NHS, they can donate directly. Most players could donate millions and still not dent their bank balance significantly. They've got no excuses, and no right to try and take the moral high ground given that they'll break the law in order to avoid paying taxes. They should absolutely have their wages cut. The amount they get paid to kick a ball around for 90 minutes a game is just insane, while the people working themselves to death in order to save lives barely earn enough to keep a roof over their heads. It's completely messed up.

Exactly. It's ludicrous. Why not ask every single "rich" person in the country to take a wage cut or make a donation.

And actually, the players were willing to make a 30% donation to charity. What they objected to was not taking 30% of their salary, which would just stay with their club's billionaire owner instead.

Nonsense! How many of these Premier League players have been caught committing tax evasion?

You tell us. I can't think of any apart from Ronaldo, Messi & Neymar, all in Spain

I've seen a fair few stories about that in the papers, and I can't help how many more are doing it without yet being caught.

So you offer no evidence then assume everyone is doing it. Riiiight.

They've got no excuses,

Apart from every excuse. Since when did footballers become responsible for the poor wages that the government pays to NHS workers? Why aren't you banging on the door of other elite sportsmen? Or how about bankers, industrialists, brain surgeons etc?

and no right to try and take the moral high ground given that they'll break the law in order to avoid paying taxes.

Oh, this assumption has quickly become fact it seems. How are they 'taking the moral high ground'?

If they really want to help the NHS, they can donate directly. Most players could donate millions and still not dent their bank balance significantly.

Maybe they planned to, maybe they are already helping. Again, since when did footballers' and nurses' wages become inextricably linked, and who are you to demand that they pay up?

The amount they get paid to kick a ball around for 90 minutes a game is just insane, while the people working themselves to death in order to save lives barely earn enough to keep a roof over their heads. It's completely messed up.

Of course it is. It's the economic model we choose to live under. Is that their fault?

Why would they keep all their salary if not playing ?

Just apply the contract.