Dietmar Hamann has blasted Liverpool over their decision to furlough staff amid the coronavirus crisis, joining fellow ex-Reds Stan Collymore, Jamie Carragher and Danny Murphy in criticising the club.
Liverpool are the latest Premier League club to announce they plan to furlough non-playing staff, with Newcastle, Tottenham, Bournemouth and Norwich also set to use the Government’s job retention scheme.
The scheme will see workers paid 80% of their wages by the government up to a maximum of £2,500 per month.
Liverpool have said they will make up the shortfall so that the club’s employees continue to receive full pay during the Covid-19 pandemic.
But Premier League clubs have been slammed for using a scheme that was designed to help out businesses struggling due to the impact of the deadly virus.
(Image: EMPICS Sport)
And former Liverpool midfielder Hamann has joined the chrorus of disapproval, saying the Reds’ decision flies against the ethics he associated with the club.
“Astonished by the news that @LFC takes advantage of the furlough scheme to claim 80 per cent of non-playing staff wages back off the government,” Hamann wrote on Twitter.
“That’s not what the scheme was designed for. Contrary to the morals and values of the club I got to know.”
Liverpool have come in for particular stick for the move after they posted a pre-tax profit of £42m in February and increased turnover to £533m in 2018/19.
(Image: Sunday Mirror)
And former Reds striker Stan Collymore said he was “disgusted” at the decision to furlough staff.
“I don’t know of any Liverpool fan of any standing that won’t be anything other than disgusted at the club for furloughing staff. It’s just plain f*cking wrong,” he said.
“Fellow football fans, furlough is for small business staff to keep those small businesses from going bump!
“Every Premier League owner has serious cash, and make money from skyrocketing values of clubs, so what aren’t you getting about YOUR owners dipping into THEIR pocket?”
