Match of the Day presenter, Gary Lineker, has said it is impossible to justify Premier League salaries when many earn more in a week than key workers do in a year
Lineker speaking on Friday to The Daily Mirror, the former England international hit out at footballers’ enormous wages – and said they shouldn’t be paid more than nurses or teachers. He reckons most players secretly felt the same but would never admit it.
The former England captain, 51, said: “When I was playing, the gap in wages between the players and the fans wasn’t as big but you can never justify players’ wages – even in my day – and I would never try to.
“We are in the entertainment business and we all know if you are top of the tree you get the big money.
“Those of us who have been in it are the fortunate ones but we understand that we probably don’t deserve it as much as the nurses or teachers.
"No one is going to come out and say in public ‘I don’t deserve the money’.”
Last month fellow BBC Match of the Day [MoTD] co-host Alan Hansen agreed to take a pay cut when his contract was renewed – and Gary admitted he may have to do the same.
He added: “They might not even want me in two years.”
A Premier League player earns an average £780,000 whereas a nurse takes home £23,500 and a teacher £30,000.
Last year MoTD moved studios from London to Salford, near Manchester and as Gary lives in Surrey it means a 450-mile round trip on Saturdays.
He said: “Coming back is a slog as it’s late at night, but the next day is Sunday so I want to be back as I have kids.
“But listen we are living in difficult times, there are a lot of people out of work, am I going to stand there and whinge?
"No, because I am lucky to have such a wonderful job.”
Premier League Top earners:
Yaya Toure, Manchester City £250,000 a wk
Wayne Rooney, Man United £250,000 a wk
Carlos Tevez, Man City £220,000 a wk
John Terry, Chelsea £200,000 a wk
Fernando Torres, Chelsea £200,000 a wk
Teacher £30,000 a year Staff nurse £23,500 a year