Rooney slams UK government in COVID-19 salary row

China’s CGTN picked up Wayne Rooney’s Sunday Times column of yesterday and put this out.

Former England captain Wayne Rooney has criticized the UK government and the Premier League for making footballers “scapegoats” during the coronavirus crisis.

Health secretary Matt Hancock has urged players in the top flight to do more, suggesting they take a 30 percent wage cut to help the NHS.

In his column for the British newspaper the Sunday Times, Rooney called the demands a disgrace.

The now Derby player-coach did say he had both the means and the will to make financial contributions, either in the form of salary reductions or direct donations to the NHS, but felt the public pressure being exerted on players was unhelpful.

The professional footballers association has said it could even harm the health service because it is tax-funded and a 30 percent decrease would mean a significantly less amount of taxes paid with one figure suggesting up to 200 million pounds unavailable to the government across a 12-month period.

CGTN YouTube Channel

What do you think? Was it fair to point the finger at Premier League footballers, or are there others who should be asked to help first? Leave a public moderated comment, below.


About This Source - CGTN

This story is an English language news item from CGTN. CGTN is a Chinese state-funded broadcaster.

Recent from CGTN:

How will the situation in the red sea evolve? 1

How will the situation in the Red Sea evolve?

Red Sea tension upsets Yemeni fishermen’s livelihood

WEF founder: China plays responsible, responsive role in face of new global setting

In This Story: COVID-19

Covid-19 is the official WHO name given to the novel coronavirus which broke out in late 2019 and began to spread in the early months of 2020.

Symptoms of coronavirus

The main symptoms of coronavirus are:

  • a persistent new cough (non productive, dry)
  • a high temperature (e.g. head feels warm to the touch)
  • shortness of breath (if this is abnormal for the individual, or increased)

Latest News about Covid-19

Below are stories from around the globe related to the 2020 outbreak of novel Coronavirus – since the WHO gave the Covid-19 naming. Most recent items are posted nearest the top.

5 Recent Items: COVID-19

Global National: Jan. 19, 2024 | Health data shows influenza, COVID-19 cases decreasing in Canada

Stock market today: Dow, S&P 500 hit record highs as tech stocks soar | January 19, 2024

Stock market today: Stocks climb with techs ready to roar | January 19, 2023

Dr Anthony Fauci ‘became part of the problem’ when it came to the spread of Covid misinformation

WEF summit: Canada warns of future supply shocks amid global instability

In This Story: Matt Hancock

Matt Hancock is a British Member of Parliament, who is serving as Health Secretary under Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Hancock was alleged to have been having an affair, after photographs emerged of him apparently kissing a woman at his Ministerial workplace were published by The Sun newspaper on 25 June 2021.

3 Recent Items: Matt Hancock

Key moments from Boris Johnson’s first Covid inquiry appearance

Boris Johnson set to back Matt Hancock and apologise for COVID complacency

COVID inquiry: Hancock defends allowing patients to be discharged into care homes

Leave a Comment

We don't require your email address, or your name, for anyone to leave a comment. If you do add an email address, you may be notified if there are replies to your comment - we won't use it for any other purpose. Please make respectful comments, which add value, and avoid personal attacks on others. Links are not allowed in comments - 99% of spam comments, attempt to post links. Please describe where people may find additional information - for example "visit the UN website" or "search Google for..." rather than posting a link. Comments failing to adhere to these guidelines will not be published.