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Paris Saint-Germain chairman Nasser Al-Khelaifi said he expects the Ligue 1 giants to suffer massive financial losses because of the coronavirus crisis.
Football, as well as the rest of the sports world, has been brought to a stop due to the outbreak of COVID-19 with French football finances hit particularly badly by an enforced pause.
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Al-Khelaifi is involved in negotiations to break the stalemate between France’s professional clubs and TV rights holders Canal+ and beIN Sports after the pair refused to pay the latest instalment in their agreement because no fixtures are taking place.
Consequently, teams in Ligue 1 and Ligue 2 are under very serious financial threat with state-aided partial unemployment and a freeze on employers’ charges related to players’ salaries all that is keeping some afloat.
“Financially, the impact of the current events, as well as the uncertainty that it brings with it, is considerable for a club like ours,” said the Qatari to RMC Sport. “It is no secret that our wage bill is substantial.
“At the end of the season, we risk suffering colossal losses. We will face that, but nothing will be simple — it will take time to strike a balance.”
PSG have superstars Neymar and Kylian Mbappe as part of coach Thomas Tuchel’s star-studded squad, and the pair are among Ligue 1’s top earners — a list dominated by the French champions’ players.
Al-Khelaifi made it clear that he expects the team to accept the recommended pay cuts put forward by the UNFP (National Union of Professional Footballers) after talks with the Ministry of Economy and Finance so that the clubs’ burdens ease.
“I expect an effort from the players for the club,” he stated, adding: “They know their responsibilities.”
Al-Khelaifi also emphasised PSG’s commitment to being able to finish the 2019-20 season “when there is a window to do so” with the “necessary sanitary conditions.”