Lineker slams Spurs decision to furlough non-playing staff

Tottenham Hotspur's decision to furlough 550 of their non-playing staff due to the economic fall-out from the coronavirus pandemic has been sharply criticised by former Spurs and England great Gary Lineker.

Spurs are one of four Premier League clubs to implement this measure which involves a reduction in the staff members salaries to 80% and paid by the British Government -- however the players high wages remain the same.

Lineker has pledged two months of his lucrative BBC salary, for presenting their flagship football highlights programme Match Of The Day, to the British Red Cross.

"The way Tottenham have handled it I don't think has been very good," he told BBC Radio on Thursday.

"What they are doing to their staff I don't agree with whatsoever." Lineker said the Spurs players may take a different line to the club and volunteer to have their salaries deferred or reduced.

"That (the furlough of the non-playing staff) is a separate issue to what the players do. It's the club that has said that the players are going to carry on with their wages, but let's see how the players react to it."
"My inkling is that footballers will take pay cuts, they will help out in communities, they will make donations in whatever way they can, and I think we need to be a little bit patient with them."