The senior management of the South African Football Association (SAFA) has agreed to take a 15 percent pay cut to mitigate the financial impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
SAFA management had met between March 20 to 22 to assess the football and financial impact of the nationwide lockdown which took effect on March 24.
Last month, South Africa’s administrator of professional football, the Premier Soccer League (PSL) announced the suspension of all matches until further notice due to the coronavirus pandemic.
“The Senior Management of the South African Football Association (SAFA) recognised that the postponement of various competitions and activities has put pressure on the finances of the organization,” a statement on SAFA’s website said in part.
SAFA also recommended a number of ways in which it could cope with the effects of the pandemic. SAFA said employees will be offered voluntary retrenchment packages as part of the cost-cutting measures and that staff must be paid their full salaries for March and April among others.
SAFA confirmed that it had made the necessary payment to the constituent groups.
The statement added that FIFA had agreed to provide SAFA with emergency funds which are expected in the next 7 to 14 days following a virtual meeting between football’s world governing body and SAFA President Danny Jordaan.
On Friday, FIFA said it will release all operational funding due to member associations for 2019 and 2020 as the first step of a relief plan to mitigate the financial impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
The PSL set a tentative deadline of end of June for the conclusion of the current season.
