Enforcing pay cuts on players and coaches is seen as the only way for M-League teams to survive the economic impact caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.
Currently, teams are in financial distress due to loss of gate collections and sponsorships.
Some sponsors are not able to keep to the agreements with the teams as they are also suffering.
However, global players union FIFPRO warned that wage cuts will affect the livelihoods of most players worldwide.
This is because these footballers just do not earn much.
In echoing FIFPRO’s views, former Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) coach Bojan Hodak said teams have to be realistic when holding discussions with their players in regard to wage cuts.
“We are not talking about Lionel Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo and other world-class footballers here. They represent only two per cent of players who earn very high salaries.
“Based on my observation, most of these professional footballers earn around US$10,000 (RM43,580) a month.
“Let’s say a 20 per cent wage cut is introduced across the board.
“Players like Ronaldo will not be greatly affected compared to a footballer who earns US$10,000.
“In my opinion, a wage cut scale in accordance with players’ salaries should be an option in the M-League.
“This way, those earning big salaries will be subject to a bigger pay cut.
“Those earning RM7,000 and below should be exempted, for if pay cuts are imposed, it might affect their livelihoods.
“In the M-League, there are many who earn between RM7,000 and RM8,000 a month. The up-and-coming players earn less.
“I do agree that the players, to a certain extent, should accept pay cuts.”
Hodak added that in other leagues, most players have agreed to pay cuts of between 30 and 66 per cent.
“I think the scale will be about the same in the M-League but it should only be imposed on players who earn big money.”
It is understood that local players with international caps earn between RM30,000 and RM60,000 a month while top foreign footballers earn more.