Villarreal announces reduction of first team salaries

In an official press release, Villarreal has announced an agreement with the men’s first team to reduce salaries in an attempt to safeguard the the salaries of other club employees. The club employs 623 people, who can continue in their work as the club avoids an ERTE.

Here is the very best part of the club statement, to me:

The club wants to thank enormously the commitment and responsibility shown by its footballers and coaching staff to facilitate this agreement and contribute with the club’s economic situation, by reducing their salaries 20%, should the competition be definitively suspended, or in smaller percentages facing different scenarios, such as the competition being resumed, in front of or without fans.

The charitableness of the players and the coaching staff, due to the economic situation caused by the State of Alarm called by the Government, has been the determining factor for the club to be able to keep the jobs of its 623 employees, securing their income for them and their family, and to not having to ask for an ‘ERTE’, (special measures allowing companies to temporarily lay off staff or cut hours).

Look at the language the club uses here, it is about the ‘commitment’, ‘responsibility’ and later the ‘charitableness’ of the players and coaching staff. The club gives credit where it is due, to those making voluntary sacrifices to help those less financially secure than themselves.

As always, this club is about people. They’re giving out meals every day, they are fulfilling their financial responsibilities to the employees that rely on them the most. The club even has members who are on the front lines fighting against this virus. Institutions show what they are really about in times of crisis, and I am incredibly impressed with what Villarreal has shown of itself the last few weeks. Endavant!