Sông Lam Nghệ An team won’t cut their salary in the COVID-19 pandemic. — Photo baonghean.vn

HÀ NỘI — The V.League 1 is divided over cutting salaries due to the COVID-19 pandemic, with at least five clubs slashing their coach and player wage bill so far.

The other nine teams have yet to do so and some claim it isn't even a consideration.

The teams have cut salaries include HCM City FC, Thanh Hóa, Nam Định, Sài Gòn and Hà Tĩnh.

Among the teams that are still doling out full pay, defending champions Hà Nội FC are seen as most financially stable.

According to the chairman of Hà Nội, Đỗ Vinh Quang, the capital side's players and coaches are still being paid in full as the club has backup funds that can allow it to continue operating without matches for several months with little impact.

Nguyễn Đức Thắng, technical director of Sông Lam Nghệ An (SLNA), said his side won’t reduce wages because they have financial plans from the beginning of the season.

“So far, when the national premier league has been postponed for a while and the date for resumption has not been determined, our sponsor has no plans for salary reduction. SLNA will not reduce wages because we have financial plans from the beginning of the season,” said Thắng.

Hồ Văn Chiêm, CEO of SLNA, also affirmed that they won't reduce wages, even if the league is postponed for a long time.

“Because if we reduce it more, what will the players live on? Truly, the salary of SLNA players is very low, at about VNĐ8 - 10 million per month. Two-thirds of the players are at a low level. A few have high levels, which is high compared to the team, not compared to other teams. For example, key player Phan Văn Đức only earns about VNĐ20 million monthly. SLNA are a poor club. If we reduce our players’ salary more, we can't contend,” said Chiêm.

For SHB Đà Nẵng, they previously slashed salaries by 20 per cent in 2008-2010 due to the economic crisis, but the pandemic hasn't brought a similar move.

“We are waiting for direction, but the salary of our players is low, it will not save much. If we have just finished reducing and the league is to resume, it will not be worth it,” said Bùi Xuân Hòa, chairman of SHB Đà Nẵng.

“Many relatives of the players are unfortunate to lose their jobs at this time, so most of them depend on the salary of the players. The league has stopped playing and losing bonuses has also reduced their income. If we deduct their wages more, it would be a crime,” Hòa added.

Earlier, Hoàng Anh Gia Lai (HAGL) also said they won’t reduce salaries.

“HAGL’s top priority is the player's rights, including minimum benefits such as food, health, board and training. We want the players to be very comfortable so that when the league returns, they will be determined to play,” said Nguyễn Tấn Anh, CEO of HAGL.

Becamex Bình Dương have not yet levied a salary reduction either.

According to Hồ Hồng Thạch, chairman of Becamex Bình Dương, if the players lost out for several months, the savings would not help much but would make the players worried. Without reducing wages, the team has asked the players to deduct part of their income to support the prevention of COVID-19. The club don’t encourage players to take a pay cut but want them to take practical actions, showing their responsibility to the community. — VNS