MESUT OZIL’S super-agent has called for all Premier League stars’ representatives to join the bitter coronavirus wage war.
Dr Erkut Sogut — the man who negotiated Arsenal midfielder Ozil’s mega £350,000-a-week Emirates contract — insists agents should be included in the current tense pay talks between the League, the PFA, clubs and players.
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Dr Erkut Sogut has told stars not to accept a pay cut during the coronavirus shutdown
And German lawyer Sogut says player wage deferrals — possibly up to nine months — are the key to breaking the deadlock following football’s shutdown.
In a webinar address on the impact of the killer Covid-19 pandemic, Sogut claims:
- Some owners run their clubs like a PlayStation game.
- Financial Fair Play rules will change to allow clubs to run up bigger debts.
- Politicians have unfairly targeted footballers in the national fight against the coronavirus.
- He will advise all players he represents across Europe not to sign off any pay cuts.
Sogut declared: “It is not easy for everyone but it’s time for the clubs to talk directly to the players and their representatives to solve this problem.
“This is what we are lacking right now. And the one thing that can be done is a deferral.
“That is a start, to say, ‘Let’s defer these payments to the end of the year or next year’.
“That is something players and clubs can agree quickly, so the clubs know they will have no cash problems and go on for the next three months. A deferral is a protection for everyone.”
Sogut has already agreed wage deferrals for some of his players in Germany and Austria.
He added: “One club may need 50 per cent, another 20, while another may not need to defer any payments at all.
“After that, clubs and players can talk about cuts — if necessary.”
Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden has slammed the “deeply concerning” deadlock between the PFA and the Premier League clubs on players’ wage cuts.
Premier League chiefs proposed a 30 per cent cut but the footballers’ union, the PFA, insists that would harm the NHS because it would lead to a £200m reduction in annual tax that players currently pay to HMRC.
Dr Sogut is the agent of Arsenal star Mesut OzilCredit: Getty Images
URGENT AGREEMENT
The Government expects the football authorities to “come together with an agreement urgently”.
Although Sogut revealed: “Talks are ongoing but we agents have been left out. We are not playing a part.
“However, whatever happens in the end will have to go through to us.
“The most important thing is to be fair, transparent and honest.”
Despite calls from Health Secretary Matt Hancock for footballers to “take a pay cut and play their part” in the coronavirus battle, Sogut is advising Ozil and all his players across Europe not to accept any immediate wage cuts.
Speaking on the Football Business Academy’s latest webinar, Sogut added: “I wouldn’t recommend agreeing a cut today because I don’t know tomorrow if the league will be played, if clubs will get TV and sponsorship money.
“What the exact financial impact is on the clubs, we can see three to six months later — but we can’t see it today.
“Deferral is an option but not to agree a cut today when the clubs may still make the same profit as last year.
“When politicians tell players to do their part, it’s a distraction because they can’t even protect NHS staff.
“It’s easy to target these ‘greedy’ Premier League players — but so many players do so much for charity.”
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The Premier League has told senior players a pay cut is required because clubs face losses of more than £1billion if the season is scrapped.
But Sogut insisted: “Premier League clubs are not in the very bad position they are showing themselves in. Most are profitable, a lot have cash reserves.
“Clubs are in trouble because they mismanage their finances.
“However, some owners do not care if they lose £50m or £200m. It’s all about prestige. They just want to win a trophy.
“The club for them is a gaming centre, like playing on a PlayStation. They want to win, it doesn’t matter how.”
Sogut believes the pandemic’s impact will lead to Europe’s governing body changing Financial Fair Play rules to ease the burden on struggling clubs.
He added: “Uefa will react to FFP and allow clubs to go more into debt over the next few years.
“But this season should be finished. Hopefully, we can resume in a couple of months.”
Watch Jamie Redknapp deliver food to the needy during coronavirus pandemic
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
