Football News

Borussia Monchengladbach squad give up wages to pay workers in bid to aid coronavirus effort

By CJ Smith

Published: 10:45, 19 March 2020 | Updated: 14:09, 6 May 2020

In an incredible gesture of goodwill, Borussia Monchengladbach‘s playing staff have offered to give up their wages to help pay the club’s staff.

Football clubs — and businesses as a whole — are having to take extreme measures to stay afloat amid the outbreak of the coronavirus, with many losing their jobs or seeing their incomes slashed.

How has coronavirus affected the world of football? Five things to know…

  • Only a handful of leagues are still playing behind closed doors as a result of the COVID-19 outbreak.
  • The likes of the Premier League, Bundesliga and La Liga have put their seasons on hold.
  • Chelsea recently announced they will be allowing NHS staff to use hotels in and around their stadium free of charge as they help fight the pandemic.
  • Gladbach’s playing and coaching staff, as well as board members, have offered to give up their wages to help pay club workers.
  • A reported total of €1m could be given up by the players as a result of the gesture.

The football industry has been hit particularly hard by the pandemic with only a handful of leagues still playing fixtures, albeit behind closed doors.

But to help keep their staff above water, the Gladbach squad have offered to give up their wages to help pay those more in need. A reported total of €1m could be given up by the players as a result, with members of the coaching staff and club directors also following their lead.

“The team has offered to forego their salaries if it can help the club and thus the employees,” sporting director Max Eberl said on Thursday.

“I am very proud of the boys.

“It’s a clear message: we stand together for Borussia, in good times and in bad. They want to give something back to Borussia and also to all the fans who support us.

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“The coaching staff have joined in, as have our sporting directors and managing directors.”

This gesture comes as the likes of Premier League club Chelsea has freed up hotel facilities in and around their stadiums for NHS staff to use as they work extra hours to battle the pandemic.