Harry Diamond
Arsene Wenger has warned that ‘clubs will die’ without support from the Premier League following the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
Football has been suspended since mid-March following the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic, though talks are continuing over a potential return for the Premier League behind-closed-doors next month.
The suspension of England’s top tier has dominated the back pages in recent weeks, though the nation’s leading clubs have now been urged to show ‘solidarity’ by aiding EFL sides during the current crisis.
Former Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger – who is now FIFA’s chief of global football development – has warned that the suspension of football could prove devastating to several clubs further down the footballing pyramid, and says the riches of the Premier League should provide help to sides in need.
“Of course the solidarity is needed,” Wenger told beIN Sports. “You know in England there are 92 professional clubs. There are 20 Premier League clubs. Out of the 72 others there are 65 that are in difficult financial positions.
“So, something needs to be done or too many clubs will die after this period. Maybe with all the money we get in from the media, part of the income from the Premier League or inside the national leagues should be used to create an emergency fund in case a disaster like this happens again in the future. The medical reasons got us confined, the financial reasons got us to play again.”
It was reported last week that the Government had asked Premier League clubs to support the EFL amid a potential £250m deficit due to a loss of matchday revenue across the second, third and fourth tiers of English football.
Former Arsenal striker recalls only two occasions he saw Wenger go ‘absolutely mental’