BERLIN: Bayern Munich players have accepted a salary cut which will last until the “end of the season” to help the Bundesliga champions through the coronavirus crisis, club president Herbert Hainer said on Saturday.
In April, the Bayern squad took a 20 percent reduction in salary, but Hainer did not specify how large the cut was this time.
“It is very satisfying to see that our team understands the situation and will again give up part of their salary until the end of the season,” Hainer told German daily Bild.
Bayern sit seven points clear of second-placed Borussia Dortmund at the top of the Bundesliga with six games remaining as they look set to win a record-extending eighth straight title.
The German top-flight season is scheduled to end on June 27, although Bayern could potentially also be in the German Cup final on July 4.
Hansi Flick’s side are also still in the Champions League, after a 3-0 victory at Chelsea in their last 16 first leg before the coronavirus lockdown, but UEFA are yet to announce how it plans to end that competition.
In another development, La Liga have confirmed players will be allowed to return to full training on Monday, giving them 10 days to work together before the season restarts in Spain on June 11.
This is the final phase of La Liga’s staggered training program as teams get set to complete the remaining 11 rounds of the season, which will finish on July 19.
European competitions, including the Champions League, could then resume in August.
“La Liga clubs will start collective training on Monday, June 1,” the league said in a statement.
“The fourth phase, which starts next Monday, is the last step in this protocol that will lead to clubs starting competition on June 11.”
La Liga president Javier Tebas has said the plan is for games to be played every day. The Spanish football federation (RFEF) gave its permission last week for matches to be staged on all days of the week.
Players in Spain’s top two divisions began training in groups of up to 10 from May 18 and then 14 shortly after, having initially begun working individually at training grounds from May 4.
La Liga suspended fixtures due to the coronavirus pandemic on March 12, meaning the break between games stopping and restarting will be almost exactly three months.
Matches will be held behind closed doors, with the Seville derby between Sevilla and Real Betis expected to be the first game back on June 11.
