Manchester City will not seek to use the UK government's job retention scheme and furlough staff during the shutdown caused by the coronavirus pandemic, the English Premier League club has told its employees.
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Several clubs, including Premier League leaders Liverpool and Tottenham have drawn fire for taking advantage of the government's scheme which pays eight per cent of the wages of staff furloughed by their companies due to the global health crisis.
City, owned by Sheikh Mansour's Abu Dhabi United Group, are the first Premier League club to state that they will not be going down that route.
Employees were sent emails this weekend reassuring them that their jobs would be protected.
"We can confirm, following a decision by the Chairman (Khaldoon Al Mubarak) and Board last week, that Manchester City will not be utilising the UK Government's Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme," a spokesperson said.
"We remain determined to protect our people, their jobs and our business whilst at the same time doing what we can to support our wider community at this most challenging time for everybody."
Australian Associated Press