CFA calls for up to 50% temporary salary cut among professional clubs

The Chinese Football Association (CFA) announced a proposal on Friday, calling upon all levels of professional clubs to cut employees' salaries temporarily during the COVID-19 pandemic, with the recommended rate between 30 and 50 percent.

The CFA said the proposal encourages clubs to negotiate with players and coaches to adjust their contracts in order to tackle the crisis after the pandemic hit the market hard. The suggested pay-cut period will be from March 1 until one week before the start of 2020 season.

"Foreign players and coaches as well as players on loan should be all be included in the action," noted the proposal.

CFA president Chen Xuyuan told media recently that FIFA has agreed to the proposal after lengthy negotiations. "If any foreign player wants to sue us overseas, I believe FIFA will have our back," Chen said.

The Chinese Super League, which has some of the best-paid foreign players and coaches around the world, was originally set to begin the 2020 season on February 22. It is undecided yet when the postponed season will begin, but Chen claimed it would hopefully kick off in late June.

In addition, the proposal added that clubs could negotiate with their employees about delaying to pay no more than 30 percent of the salaries before the start of the season if necessary, but the delayed payment should be completed within 90 days.

If any club can't reach consensus with their players and coaches on adjusting contracts, and therefore needs to take unilateral action on unified pay cut, the proposal said the club should provide "sufficient materials, including the actual financial situation of the club and an indepth explanation to the CFA".

The Chinese football governing body also urged that footballers whose after-tax income is less than 10,000 yuan (about $1,410) per month should not be involved in the pay cut scheme. In addition, clubs should not delay the payment of those who earn no more than 20,000 yuan a month.