Barcelona (AFP)
FC Barcelona has suffered a shortfall this season of around 200 million euros because of the Covid-19 pandemic and will have to adapt the salaries of the players as a result, says its president Josep Maria Bartomeu on Sunday.
"Since March 14 (beginning of three months of confinement in Spain, editor's note) we have hardly seen anything. We have a shortfall of around 200 million," said Barça president in an interview with Mundo Deportivo.
"We had to close the shops and the museum, there was no ticket office. We will reimburse the part of the subscription corresponding to the matches that have not been played (with the public, editor's note)", lists Josep Maria Bartomeu.
The club responded to this crisis by reducing players' salaries and resorting to partial unemployment for its employees.
Barça, who expected to reach a turnover of 1.1 billion euros at the end of the 2020-2021 season, now expects "30% less", according to Josep Maria Bartomeu.
"This is why we are adapting the whole club to the turnover that we are going to achieve in this 20-21 season. What does that mean? That we are going to have to adapt the salaries of the players, the staff, technicians, club leaders. Everything that the club generates must be prepared for this reduction in income, "detailed the president.
This season, the club expected to exceed one billion euros in turnover for the first time, but its forecasts have been struck down by the pandemic.
"If anyone thinks that the pandemic has no effect on Barca, they are wrong. It affects the big European clubs and Barça, which is the European club that earns the most money, is the most affected, "said the president.
However, the club should remain the one generating the most money, he promises. "We had a higher level of income than the other big clubs, but on March 14 we had to adapt to the new situation and despite the cuts we will remain the leaders in turnover."
© 2020 AFP