LIVERPOOL captain Jordan Henderson has set up a coronavirus crisis fund with fellow Premier League skippers to raise millions of pounds for the NHS.
The Times report the scheme was planned after Health Secretary Matt Hancock’s scathing comments about footballers needing to “play their part” by agreeing to a pay cut amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
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Jordan Henderson has sets up a coronavirus crisis fund with fellow Premier League skippers to fund millions of pounds for the National Health Service
The crisis fund will aim to raise millions of pounds for the NHS, who are growing ever stretched during the global crisis.
Henderson’s initiative is said to have drawn a positive response from rivals players across the league, who are currently self-isolating, with the season suspended indefinitely.
It is believed the England midfielder spent much of this week pitching the idea to other Premier League captains.
As talks progress, players want to speak with the NHS and seek government guidance on the best way to distribute the money raised and where it is most needed.
It is claimed various banks have already been contacted to begin setting up the fund and Premier League stars will be asked to contribute towards it.
With a wide range in varying salaries across the 20 league clubs, it will be down to the players to individually decide how much cash they donate.
Premier League bosses are due to meet on Friday to discuss wage cuts for footballers amid the coronavirus outbreak.
But it is understood any donation made to the NHS will not be included from the impending wages due to be docked.
Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has already donated £920,000 to a charity in Barcelona to help buy equipment to fight the deadly virus.
His former player Lionel Messi followed suit by giving the same amount to split between Barcelona’s University hospital and another medical centre in his native Argentina.
United are set to become the first team in England to slash squad salaries.
Club captain Harry Maguire, who pockets £190,000 a week, was approached by executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward about the idea of donating 30 per cent of their wages this month to the NHS.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock calls on Premier League footballers to take a pay cut during coronavirus battle
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
