Chinese Football Association proposes salary cut of up to 50%

The Chinese Football Association proposed a salary cut, ranging from 35 to 50 percent, on players and coaches of clubs in all three tiers of the Chinese soccer leagues, as the COVID-19 pandemic brought unprecedented challenges to the Chinese professional soccer market.

According to an announcement published on the CFA website on Friday, the proposal was made based on the demands of the clubs and communication with the players, coaches and the world's soccer governing body FIFA.

"The COVID-19 epidemic has had a big impact on the soccer industry. All levels of leagues were forced to postpone the 2020 season, which influenced the normal operation of clubs," read the CFA announcement. "With low income and high labor costs, the clubs are facing growing financial pressure."

The CFA has made it clear in the announcement that its salary cut proposal is not compulsory, as the clubs need to have "fair and friendly negotiations" with their players and coaches in the matter to seek a solution together.

The time period of the salary cut should be counted from March 1, till one week before the 2020 season restarts, while the Chinese soccer governing body still has not determined when the 2020 season will return.

The CFA also proposed clubs could have plans to delay payment to players and coaches before the season kicks off based on their current cash flow situation. But the proportion of the delayed payment should not exceed 30 percent of players and coaches' salaries. And the clubs should pay the delayed salary within 90 days after the season kicks off.

To protect low-income players, the CFA proposed the salary cut should not apply to players and coaches with a monthly income below 10,000 yuan ($ 1,413).

"I hope the players could view the salary cut in a positive way," said the CFA president Chen Xuyuan during an interview with China Central Television on Thursday.

"The salary cut will benefit the long-term development of both the clubs and the players. We should not only consider right now. We need to see the future.

"The foreign players are included in the salary cut plan. We have many communications with FIFA. It's not fair if we treat foreign and domestic players differently."