Premier League clubs paid record 1.8 bln-dollar wages in 2012-13 season: Report

Premier League clubs have reportedly paid a record 1.8 billion pounds in salaries in the 2012-13 season, which is an eleven percent increase from the previous season's record.

Although the proportion of the income clubs spent on wages in 2012-13 was the same as in 2011-12- 67 percent, however, the total wage bill rose in the 2012-13 season as clubs earned more money overall, principally from increased sponsorship deals.

According to The Guardian, although clubs made a record 2.7 billion-pound combined income in 2012-13, however, they made an overall loss of 291 million pounds, with five among the 20 clubs including Aston Villa, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City and Queens Park Rangers losing 50 million pounds or more.

Salary packages of more than a million pounds went to the highest paid director at nine clubs altogether- Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester United, Norwich City, Southampton, Tottenham Hotspur, West Bromwich Albion and West Ham United.

However, the report said that despite the sponsorships and historically very expensive ticket prices, clubs' net debt increased in 2012-13, from 2.2 billion pounds in 2011-12 to 2.4 billion pounds.