sexta-feira, 27 de março de 2020

La encrucijada económica en la que se ven envueltos los clubes

El 12 de marzo, la Liga y la Federación anunciaban que habían decidido que se pararan las competiciones futbolísticas de todo el país. Desde entonces, el panorama sanitario, social y deportivo no ha hecho más que empeorar, y se ha generado una incertidumbre económica que ha puesto en jaque al mundo. Por supuesto, el universo futbolístico se encuentra inmerso de lleno en ella, y los clubes se están viendo obligados a tomar medidas excepcionales para hacer frente a la situación. Pero, ¿cuáles van a ser dichas medidas, y que problemática generan?
Es muy importante hacer una distinción entre fútbol profesional (Primera y Segunda división) y fútbol no profesional (Segunda B y Tercera). En el primer caso, la competencia organizativa la tendría la LaLiga, mientras que en el segundo las competiciones están reguladas por la RFEF. Pero esta es solo la principal de muchas diferencias, por lo que es importante exponer la situación de ambos por separado.

FUTBOL PROFESIONAL

El problema más importante que tienen estos clubes es que la mayor parte de su presupuesto se sustenta en los ingresos televisivos. Esta fuente de dinero, en caso de no reanudarse la competición, se vería muy mermada. Unas cifras, que según la estimación de la patronal, podrían llegar a los 483 millones de euros en el caso de Primera y 48 millones en el caso de Segunda. Una partida que ocupa más del 50% de la mayoría de los presupuestos. Esto provoca que muchos clubes no puedan hacer frente a los contratos laborales de sus empleados, entre ellos futbolistas y entrenadores. Por lo que la toma de medidas excepcionales es necesaria. Posibles soluciones:
· Acogerse a un ERTE: es la solución a la que han llegado un número importante de empresas de nuestro país. Consistiría en una suspensión temporal de los contratos, en la que en ningún caso dicho contrato quedaría extinguido. El problema si se acogen a la suspensión es que la Seguridad Social cubriría hasta un tope máximo de unos 1.413 euros mensuales del salario del jugador, una cantidad que dista enormemente de los mínimos establecidos en el Convenio regulador (155.000 y 77.500). Sin embargo, el ERTE también puede radicar en una reducción de la jornada de trabajo, y por ende, del salario de los jugadores, entre un 10 y un 70%. Este parece ser el escenario más posible. De hecho, clubes como el Barcelona ya están en proceso. La dificultad estiva aquí en alcanzar un acuerdo que contente a todas las partes: clubs, jugadores, sindicatos y patronal.
· Opción de la Federación: es la planteada esta mañana por el presidente de la RFEF, Luis Rubiales, quien ha ofrecido una línea de crédito sindicado cuya cuantía asciende a un mínimo de 500 millones de euros. Con ella, el órgano federativo pretende que se mantenga y garantice el 100% de los salarios, y los clubes puedan solicitar aquella cuantía necesaria para hacer frente al gasto, devolviendo este dinero en el futuro (dos años).
Sin embargo, esta medida parece haber quedado descartada ya que, tal y como ha dicho Javier Tebas en su cuenta de Twitter, la disposición adicional primera del Real Decreto 5/2015 de venta centralizada de TV lo hace imposible: "La Liga de Nacional de Fútbol Profesional podrá utilizar todos los derechos cuya comercialización tiene legalmente cedida como garantía para acceder a financiación, con la exclusiva finalidad de facilitar a los clubes y entidades participantes que la integran recursos para saldar sus deudas con las Administraciones Públicas".

FÚTBOL NO PROFESIONAL

El caso de los clubes de 2ªB y 3ª la principal fuente de ingresos de los clubes proviene del ticketing y la campaña de abonados. Con el panorama incierto que vive el país, no es posible determinar si los partidos restantes de la competición doméstica se van a disputar o no, y en el caso de hacerlo si lo harían con público en las gradas. Por ello, la mayor fuente de ingresos de los clubes de 2ªB y 3ª están en el aire, y esto supondría problemas muy serios de subsistencia para muchos de ellos. A esto, tenemos que añadir la posible indemnización que tendrían que hacer frente las entidades en forma de devolución económica de la parte proporcional de su abono a los socios. Posibles soluciones:
· Tomar un préstamo del fondo de 4 millones propuesto por la Federación: medida tomada hace unas horas por parte de la RFEF que permite tomar prestado, por parte de los clubes, dinero para hacer frente a los pagos de contratos del personal del club. El problema de esta medida es que, a pesar de que la devolución de dicho préstamo no tendría comisión alguna, los clubes verían reducido su presupuesto en los próximos años, ya que parte de este debería ir destinado al vencimiento de préstamo. Además, en el caso de los equipos de , se podría dar el caso de que un equipo que tome esta medida descienda de categoría, viendo reducido su presupuesto en gran medida, a lo que tendría que sumar el pago del préstamo.
· Acogerse a un ERTE: esta situación parece la idónea para los clubes de estas categorías, ya que sus jugadores no tienen salarios tan ostentosos como ocurre en el fútbol profesional. En este sentido los futbolistas no renunciarían a tanto salario mensual y, en principio, parecería buena medida. La problemática en este caso viene dada porque, debida a la falta de profesionalismo y conocimiento de la materia en estos clubs, muchos de sus trabajadores, entre los que se encuentran los futbolistas, no están dentro del sistema de seguridad social, por lo que no se le puede aplicar el ERTE. Por ello, en este caso, los clubs tendrían que llegar a un acuerdo para suspender la compensación de gastos que le vienen abonando, o acogerse a la medida propuesta por la RFEF, para evitar un perjuicio económico irreparable y que los empuje a la posterior quiebra y desaparición. Según ha contado a Marca el abogado deportivo Cristóbal Fernández.
Todos los casos, tanto en el fútbol profesional como en el no profesional, son excepcionales debido a la situación del país. Estas son las posibles medidas que se podrían llevar a cabo, lo que finalmente ocurra aún es una incógnita. Sobre todo sin saber todavía si LaLiga se podrá reanudar, o no. Eso será lo que realmente marque el curso de las decisiones a tomar.

DFB-Termine der Nachwuchsteams bis Ende Juni abgesagt

Die DFB-Junioren müssen pausieren
Die DFB-Junioren müssen pausieren
Wegen der Corona-Pandemie werden die Fußball-Nationalspieler und -spielerinnen der Zukunft bis Ende Juni keine Länderspiele und Lehrgänge absolvieren.
Der Deutsche Fußball-Bund (DFB) teilte am Freitag mit, dass sämtliche Termine der DFB-Nachwuchsteams in diesem Zeitraum abgesagt wurden.
"An oberster Stelle steht die Gesundheit - nicht nur der jungen Spielerinnen und Spieler sowie Beteiligten, sondern vor allem der gesamten Gesellschaft", sagte DFB-Generalsekretär Friedrich Curtius: "Vor diesem Hintergrund vertrauen wir weiterhin der Expertise der Gesundheitsbehörden und werden auch in den nächsten Wochen und Monaten mit vernünftigem und sorgfältigem Handeln unseren Beitrag leisten, gemeinsam die Eindämmung des Coronavirus zu unterstützen."

Neville 'doesn't get' voiding of English non-league season


Former England defender Gary Neville said he "doesn't get" the decision to have all English football season from the seventh-tier down brought to an end with results from the campaign voided in response to the coronavirus outbreak.
Thursday saw England's governing Football Association announce that no promotion or relegation will take place from the leagues affected in what could be an important precedent if the suspension of professional games due to the COVID-19 pandemic is extended.
"The FA and NLS (National League System) steps three to six have reached a consensus that their 2019-20 season will now be brought to an end, and all results will be expunged," the FA said in a statement.
"This will mean no promotion or relegation of clubs between NLS steps three to six, and no promotion to NLS step two."
But the move was met with dismay by several clubs, with former Manchester United and England defender Neville, a co-owner of Salford, now in fourth-tier League Two but until recently a non-league side, saying: "Can someone explain to me what is forcing the non-league divisions to void the season? We've been down there with @SalfordCityFC for 5 years so we have some experience of it and I don't get it!! Help."
Meanwhile, the chairman of South Shields, 12 points clear at the top of the Northern Premier Division and all but assured of promotion to National League North, has threatened the FA with legal action.
"SSFC will be writing to the FA in the strongest possible terms and will seek an appeal or will take legal action," said Geoff Thompson.
"Whatever the outcome following this appalling decision, the club will continue as before. However, there is no denying this decision has a huge financial impact."
Men's grassroots football and women's football below the top two tiers were also brought to an end to "allow the game to move forward and to commence planning for next season."
The Premier League and English Football League have so far insisted they will try to finish the current season whenever it is safe to do so.
Football is currently suspended until at least April 30 with that date expected to be pushed further back at meetings next week.
On Monday, the British government imposed further restrictions on movement to just essential work, shopping for food and medicine and one form of exercise a day, with those measures set to last at least three weeks.

Arteta reckons Arsenal 'homework' could lead to new coaches

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta believes the 'homework' he has set his players during the coronavirus outbreak could see some of them become coaches.
With the Premier League halted and Britain in a state of lockdown, players are having to train at home.
Arteta tested positive for COVID-19 a fortnight ago but has now recovered.
"There is the psychological support that they need, which we are giving them (the players)," Arteta, who turned 38 on Thursday, told Arsenal's website.
"And as well I'm giving them a lot of homework to do because I've been reviewing everything that we've been doing since I joined.
"There are things we have to maintain doing, improve and develop, and individually they are really enjoying the challenge.
"We might get a few coaches after this virus, or at least a few players that are willing to go down that path, because I think they are really enjoying the process."
Arteta, a father of three children, said he he was trying to make the best of a bad situation.
"For 17 years, I haven't had the opportunity to wake up with my kids and spend a lot of time, dedicate my time and listen to them. You know, do their homework with them and the same with my missus.
"I think we are all realising how much we need each other. We are in a world here where everything is social media, everything is a WhatsApp text.
"But how important is touching each other, feeling each other and hugging each other? I miss that a lot with a lot of people that I love."
Third-tier Portsmouth, who lost to Arsenal in the FA Cup on March 2, have since had five players test positive for the coronavirus.
"They are all feeling reasonably good," assistant manager Joe Gallen told the Guardian.
Portsmouth are chasing promotion to the Championship and Gallen added: "When we were told we were going to shut down on March 13, it was a huge disappointment.
"But after a bit of sober reflection, you do start to think that football does seem a bit irrelevant."

Barcelona to cut salaries in virus fight


Barcelona said Thursday they were slashing salaries to counter the financial fall-out from the coronavirus although the Spanish giants did not specify if all of its employees would be affected by the move.
All football has been suspended in Spain where the virus has so far killed more than 4,000 people with 56,000 confirmed cases.
"The suspension of competitions, following the epidemic of Covid-19, entails the cessation of all activities, sporting and non-sporting, of our club," said a statement released by Barcelona.
The club, it added, had taken a "series of measures to mitigate its effects and reduce the economic consequences of this crisis."
"Essentially, it is a reduction in the working day, forced by the circumstances, and consequently a proportional reduction in the remuneration provided for in the respective contracts."
The Catalan club did not specify, however, the scale of the cuts or if all of its employees are affected.

Italy's sports minister 'doubtful' of early May return for Serie A

Italy's sports minister Vincenzo Spadafora said Thursday he was "very, very doubtful" that Serie A action would return as hoped in early May.
Both Spadafora and Italian football federation chief Gabriele Gravina had last week expressed their hope that the championship could resume on the weekend of May 2.
"The forecasts that made us think we could resume sports competitions in late April or early May I think are a bit too optimistic," Spadafora told Italian television station Rai 3.
"I am very, very doubtful. I can certainly say that if there are conditions to resume competitions in certain circumstances, it will certainly take place behind closed doors.
"To date, it is unthinkable to say that in May it is possible to resume all competitions regularly, especially with spectators.
"Even scientists have no certainty about the evolution of the epidemic. We have to adapt our decisions to changing situations."
All sport in Italy has been suspended until April 3 as a result of the coronavirus pandemic which has killed 8,000 people in the country.
"The final decision will be up to the FIGC (the Italian football federation)," the sports minister added.
"They could decide to postpone games until the late summer, but the situation is complicated, football has taken a little longer than others to understand the crisis."
He added: "We want to be ready to start as soon as it will be possible. Sport will be one of the engines that will allow us to revive this country after the health crisis."

Lessons from China as coronavirus-hit football faces difficult return

With nagging concerns about coronavirus sweeping through teams and players scattered across the world, unable or hesitant to return, China is finding that restarting football is no simple matter.
The problems faced by China, one of the first countries to suspend football and the epicentre of the pandemic, could be a glimpse into the future for other leagues called off around the world.
The Chinese Super League (CSL) was a harbinger of the collapse of global sport when officials announced in January that the February 22 start date had been indefinitely postponed.
Last week there were claims that with the peak of coronavirus -- which emerged in China in December -- seemingly over in the country, the CSL could start on April 18. May 2 was also mentioned.
But then came the first confirmed coronavirus case in Chinese football, a Brazilian in the second tier, one of a wave of imported cases that has put China on alert for a second virus emergency.
And on Sunday former Manchester United midfielder Marouane Fellaini, now with Shandong Luneng, said he had tested positive, becoming the first known case in the CSL.
On Thursday the respected Soccer News said the season has now been pushed back to late May or early June.
However, tough government restrictions announced later Thursday that partially seal off China, reducing international flights and barring foreigners, throw even those dates into question.
Suggestions that basketball, the other major sport in China, could restart in early April have also fizzled out, dealing a blow to government attempts to portray China as getting back to normal.
"If more cases occur in the future, the date of the Chinese Super League restart will be postponed again," Soccer News warned.
Both Fellaini -- one of the biggest names in Chinese football -- and Brazilian forward Dorielton tested positive for the coronavirus after returning from abroad.
Foreign leagues suspended by coronavirus will be watching how the CSL fares in getting off the ground, but the lingering threat of infections is not the only barrier.
Chinese teams are training for the new campaign but numerous foreign players and coaches are still in their home nations and face being locked out the country.
Late Thursday, China slashed the number of international flights and said that even foreigners with valid visas and resident permits will be blocked from entering after midnight Saturday.
Some of the CSL's most expensive players, including the Brazilians Oscar, Hulk and Paulinho, face a race against time.
With global travel badly disrupted, wealthier clubs could charter planes to fetch their foreign stars. But it appears inevitable that some will miss the Saturday deadline.
Those that do return will then need to go into isolation for a fortnight in case they are infected, adding another delay