Ex Hearts of Oak midfielder Lawrence Adja-Tetteh backs pay-cut calls for local players amidst COVID-19 crisis, provides considerable latitude for least earners

Former Accra Hearts of Oak flamboyant midfielder Lawrence Adja-Tetteh has expressed his support for the calls for football players in the country to accept pay-cut amidst global economic struggle by football clubs due to the novel coronavirus pandemic (COVID-19), but pleads exemption for low earning footballers who may be struggling to make a good living due to low incomes.

All over the world, most football clubs have been forced to review player salaries with several players having agreed to take pay cuts to ease the pressure on their clubs, while some have resorted to donating part of their salaries to support institutions, individuals etc in the global battle against the novel Coronavirus pandemic. In Spain, clubs like Real Madrid and Barcelona have been relieved after players agreed to accept pay cuts to enable the club survive and to support the vulnerable and the needy in society in this trying times.

Back in Ghana, it still remain a debate as to whether premier league players or professional footballers in the country should agree to accept pay cuts to cushion the clubs survive the economic hardships especially in the absence of football since March. Most footballers in the country have kicked against the idea of accepting salary reduction, citing low income, a situation which has left even the Professional Footballers Association of Ghana (PFAG) in difficulty to agree with the clubs.

Speaking exclusively to ghanasportspage.com, former Hearts of Oak icon Adja-Tetteh believes it is naturally right for players to accept pay cut to save the clubs, but states that the call should exempt players whose salaries are relatively low.

“The call to reduce players’ salaries by 50% is good in some way, because they are home, not going for even training, they are home and if they don’t take full salary at the end of the month it’s not a bad idea, because same thing is being applied to great professionals like the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Messi and other professional players who play outside Ghana, so if Ghanaian footballers are to take a 50% pay cut it’s not a big deal, it will help”, Adja-Tetteh stated.

Meanwhile, the CAF Champions League, Confederations Cup winner cautioned that the 50% pay cut should only be applied depending on the salary structure of the players involved. In his submission, Adja-Tetteh stated that players who earn monthly salary of GHC200 or less cannot afford the said deductions and should therefore be exempted.

“There should be measures, some play for Accra Hearts of Oak, some for Kumasi Asante Kotoko, Ashantigold or Aduana [Stars], it depends the salary of the player. Assuming the person earns GHC200 a month, if you take off 50% of it how much will he get? He must get something to afford bags of rice and other food stuffs for this lock down periods, so taking 50% of that won’t help but those who take big salaries can be made to accept such reductions and those who take little can also sacrifice little amounts, but reducing their salaries is never a bad call”, he concluded.

World football governing body, FIFA, has urged clubs to engage their employees (players and others) for mutual agreement on what will be in the best interest of both parties. Presently, premier league clubs such as Asante Kotoko, Accra Hearts, Ashantigold and others have not yet agreed on anything concerning pay cuts, but clubs like Asante Kotoko are in discussion with the players over the matter and await a final conclusion which will consequently, serve the best interest of all parties.