Rooney hits out at footballer critics
Wayne Rooney says the scapegoating of footballers during the coronavirus pandemic has been disgraceful.
Clubs and players have come under scrutiny as the Covid-19 crisis continues to escalate, with the Health Secretary quick to highlight the supposed lack of support being offered by well remunerated footballers.
Hancock urged top-flight professionals to "take a pay cut and play their part" on Thursday, perhaps unaware that Premier League captains were already in discussions about how players could help during the coronavirus outbreak.
But while that fund edges closer to a launch, other matters remain up in the air. The Premier League suggested a 30 per cent wage cut or deferral, only for the Professional Footballers' Association to issue a statement saying such a move could result in a £200million tax deficit.
Former England captain Rooney said the Government and the Premier League had left players in a "no-win situation" over the issue of pay cuts.
"If the Government approached me to help support nurses financially or buy ventilators I'd be proud to do so - as long as I knew where the money was going," the Derby skipper wrote in his Sunday Times column.
"I'm in a position where I could give something up. Not every footballer is in the same position.
"Yet suddenly the whole profession has been put on the spot with a demand for 30 per cent pay cuts across the board. Why are footballers suddenly the scapegoats?
"How the past few days have played out is a disgrace. He (Hancock) was supposed to be giving the nation the latest on the biggest crisis we've faced in our lifetimes.
"Why was the pay of footballers even in his head? Was he desperate to divert attention from his Government's handling of this pandemic?"
But Rooney's criticism and that of other high-profile figures has not led to change of tack from Hancock, who doubled down on his call for players to donate wages to worthy causes.
Published: by Radio NewsHub