English Premier LeagueLiverpool furloughs some of its non-playing staff
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League leaders, Liverpool is the latest Premier League club to place some of its non-playing staff on temporary leave amid Coronavirus pandemic.

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Liverpool placed some of its non-playing staff on temporary leave and are holding talks about the prospects of salary deduction for players and senior staff.

The staff affected will receive 80% of their salary through the government’s job retention scheme. The club will as well make up for the difference.

A Liverpool statement read:

“Even prior to the decision on staff furloughing, there was a collective commitment at senior levels of the club and off the pitch with everyone working towards a solution that secured jobs for employees of the club during this unprecedented crisis.”

‘There is ongoing active engagement about salary deductions during the period matches are not played to schedule. These discussions are complex and as a result, the process is ongoing.”

The decision taken by the Reds has however faced critics by the former Liverpool players, Jamie Carragher and Stan Collymore despite the indefinite league suspension.

Jamie Carragher tweeted, “Jurgen Klopp showed compassion for all at the start of this pandemic. Senior players are heavily involved in Premier League players taking wage cuts. Then all that respect and goodwill is lost. Poor this.”

Meanwhile, Collymore wrote on his social media. “I don’t know of any Liverpool fan of any standing that won’t be anything other than disgusted at the club for furloughing staff. It’s just plain wrong.”

“Fellow football fans, furlough is for small business staff to keep those small businesses from going bump. Every Premier League owner has serious cash and makes money from skyrocketing values of clubs. So, what aren’t you getting about your owners dipping into their pocket?” He added.

“Not feeling like a family member”

A member of staff who works for Liverpool mentioned to BBC Sport, “The club calls their staff their family. I’m not feeling like a family member.”

“Why is a club that turns over millions of pounds using a government scheme for its staff when other businesses are more in need of it?”

“I feel disappointed and I’m feeling that this government scheme could be used by businesses in trouble.”