The Financial Times reported (24 October 2013) that François Hollande, the president of France, will be facing unprecedented strikes by the country’s football clubs in the top two divisions, who have cancelled all matches in the final week of November in protest at the ‘unfair and discri
The Financial Times reported (24 October 2013) that François Hollande, the president of France, will be facing unprecedented strikes by the country’s football clubs in the top two divisions, who have cancelled all matches in the final week of November in protest at the ‘unfair and discriminatory’ 75% income tax rate. Jean-Pierre Louvel, head of the UCPF, the professional football club union, angrily condemned the supertax for threatening to cripple struggling clubs, declaring: ‘We are talking about the death of French football.’
The 75% tax rate will be levied from next year on employers who must pay it for two years on all annual salaries above €1m. Although Hollande has agreed to meet with France’s football leaders, the UCPF nevertheless voted unanimously to strike. According to the FT, French football clubs say the tax will collectively cost them €44m annually, and that clubs and their players paid €700m in tax and social contributions last year, which is ‘more than they earned in television rights’. Mr Louvel opined: ‘We are already the most taxed league in Europe and the other leagues are already much stronger than us.’
The Financial Times reported (24 October 2013) that François Hollande, the president of France, will be facing unprecedented strikes by the country’s football clubs in the top two divisions, who have cancelled all matches in the final week of November in protest at the ‘unfair and discri
The Financial Times reported (24 October 2013) that François Hollande, the president of France, will be facing unprecedented strikes by the country’s football clubs in the top two divisions, who have cancelled all matches in the final week of November in protest at the ‘unfair and discriminatory’ 75% income tax rate. Jean-Pierre Louvel, head of the UCPF, the professional football club union, angrily condemned the supertax for threatening to cripple struggling clubs, declaring: ‘We are talking about the death of French football.’
The 75% tax rate will be levied from next year on employers who must pay it for two years on all annual salaries above €1m. Although Hollande has agreed to meet with France’s football leaders, the UCPF nevertheless voted unanimously to strike. According to the FT, French football clubs say the tax will collectively cost them €44m annually, and that clubs and their players paid €700m in tax and social contributions last year, which is ‘more than they earned in television rights’. Mr Louvel opined: ‘We are already the most taxed league in Europe and the other leagues are already much stronger than us.’
