Madrid (AFP)
After those of FC Barcelona, the players of Atlético Madrid agreed Thursday to reduce their wages by 70% to help their club bear the economic consequences of the football shutdown imposed by the coronavirus pandemic.
The club had already announced last week its intention to put its workforce on partial unemployment.
The device "will imply a reduction of 70% in the salaries of technicians and players of the men's first team, the women's first team and Atlético Madrid B, as long as the state of alert is in force", specifies the Madrid club in a press release.
Spain, the second European country most affected by the coronavirus pandemic with more than 10,000 deaths, is subject until April 11 at least to a strict containment regime which put the economy almost completely shut down.
The Atlético players will also contribute to the salaries of 430 other club employees, also placed on short-time working, a device which allows employers to suspend contracts or reduce the working time, and therefore the remuneration, of its employees.
On Monday, FC Barcelona announced a similar measure for its players, who cut their wages by 70% while the state of alert is in force. A measure that should save him 14 million euros, according to the club's estimates.
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