Coronavirus latest: Palace make assurances to staff; Mikel quits

Joe Williams

Crystal Palace have made assurances to staff over pay following the outbreak of coronavirus.

With the leagues shut down until at least April 3 and for potentially far longer, club finances have have been hit with non-league Barnet already making 60 staff redundant.

Palace have pledged to support their employees, with chairman Steve Parish saying in a statement on the Eagles’ website that anyone affected by Covid-19 will still receive full pay instead of statutory sick pay.

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Parish also said matchday staff who have lost work due to the suspension of the Premier League will not be out of pocket.

Palace’s training ground in New Beckenham is on a one-week lockdown as a precautionary measure, with players staying at home with personalised training plans.

 

Meanwhile, John Obi Mikel has had his Trabzonspor contract terminated by mutual consent after using Instagram to protest against matches in Turkey being played despite the coronavirus pandemic.

Turkey’s Super Lig is one of the only top-level leagues in Europe not to have postponed matches, instead opting to stage games behind closed doors.

On Saturday, former Chelsea midfielder Mikel used social media to voice his opposition, writing on Instagram: “There’s more to life than football.

“I do not feel comfortable and don’t want to play football in this situation. Everyone should be home with their families and loved ones in this critical time.

“Season should be cancelled as the world is facing such turbulent times.”

Mikel, the 32-year-old former Nigeria international, joined Trabzonspor on a two-year deal last summer but has forfeited any remaining payments in order to leave early.

A statement on Trabzonspor’s website said: “The professional football player agreement between our company and John Obi Mikel… has been mutually terminated.

“With the mutual termination agreement, the football player gave up all his future earnings.”

Mikel’s post received support from Radamel Falcao, who plays for Turkish club Galatasaray. Falcao replied: “You are right John. The life is more important than football.”