Egyptian giants Ahly are currently in talks with players over wage cuts, according to football director Sayed Abdel-Hafiz who insisted that cutting salaries has become necessary amid the worldwide coronavirus crisis.
“I had a meeting with the team’s senior players to inform them about the current situation to avoid seeing them surprised if a decision was taken concerning wage cuts,” Abdel-Hafiz told Al-Nahar TV channel on Tuesday.
Football activity in Egypt has been suspended since 14 March after the government decided to tighten measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
As this season’s fate is still in limbo, like in most countries, there have been calls for the salaries of Premier League players to be cut to reduce the financial impact of the pandemic on their clubs.
Several former players said the sport’s leading stars, especially those playing for prominent clubs like Ahly and Zamalek, should take the initiative; while, Ittihad of Alexandria President Mohamed Moselhi called on players of the Egyptian League to show solidarity with their clubs.
“Reducing players’ salaries is now essential because of the suspension of football activities and the clubs’ financial crisis that may oblige some of them to go bankrupt,” added Abdel-Hafiz.
Earlier in April, the Egyptian Football Association launched an initiative to support players in the third and fourth divisions amid the coronavirus crisis, stressing that all “football stars, Premier League clubs and all football fans” are welcome to contribute to help their counterparts.
Already some club players and managers requested their salaries be cut. The Arab Contractors Club announced last week cutting this month’s salaries of first team players and staff by 50 percent to be able to pay the employees’ wages.
Pyramids FC also announced earlier cutting players’ wages to donate 500 medical units.
Ittihad of Alexandria’s coach Talaat Youssef and technical staff members gave up 50 percent of their salaries since football activities have been halted.
