Chelsea confirms full payment for all staff, no salary cuts for players, refunds for fans

The immediate future of the Premier League remains in limbo, but Chelsea continues to respond magnificently, with today’s official statement on the club’s website confirming continued full payment for all non-playing staff, and full payment for the casual day and the hospitality staff to the original end. of the season on June 30.

Previous reports indicated that those wages would be paid in full until the end of April, but with the end of the month less than a week away, it’s great to see the club confirm that they maintain the status quo for at least two more months. There are no permits at Stamford Bridge!

It is especially encouraging to see that happen despite the club not agreeing to pay cuts with the players. The official statement describes this as a club decision, with the players grateful for their support during this time, but with the intention of continuing to contribute to the various charitable causes led by the Chelsea Foundation (including the joint effort with Refuge against Domestic Violence. ) or by the PFA (#PlayersTogether). Media reports, unsurprisingly, took a more negative turn for things, with The Guardian claiming that the club “is not willing to approve” the players’ offer, which “is believed to be” less than 10 percent reported by Chelsea’s trusted voices earlier this week.

The truth, as always, is probably somewhere in between, but as long as the club continues to pay non-playing staff in full, it’s not a big deal that players get their money, too. According to the statement, negotiations with the players (led by Captain César Azpilicueta) will continue as the crisis unfolds and, presumably, especially if the situation worsens or we find further delays or cancellations.

Photo of Harold Cunningham – UEFA / UEFA via Getty Images

In other great Chelsea news, the club has confirmed refunds for unused portions of season tickets, as well as already purchased game and hospitality tickets. Chelsea is also offering up to £ 350 in travel reimbursement for those who had already planned to fly to Munich for the second leg of the Champions League round of 16 to be held on March 18, but it is still postponed indefinitely. (Is UEFA planning to end the 2019-20 Champions League perhaps in August?)

All of this adds to Chelsea’s efforts to support the health care system in this time of crisis with free hotel rooms (128 used, according to the statement), free parking, and free meals (increased from 78,000 to 81,000). The Chelsea Foundation is also helping with home schooling and home care, with several educational books and online video clinics.

There’s a lot to be proud of about our club here, and that’s before we get to all the social media engagement and retro video content on the club’s various channels! Exemplary response, most of which doesn’t make headlines because the good news doesn’t sell.

The full long statement of the club can be read on the official website.