Member Article

Final whistle for football clubs not paying minimum wage

HMRC have announced a crackdown on football clubs that don’t pay their staff the National Minimum Wage.

The department say there is evidence that some professional clubs may not be paying backroom staff the legal minimum wage as the new football season gets underway.

HMRC research suggests that posts are being advertised for work at football clubs in areas such as sport science and marketing, as well as matchday roles - such as ball boy supervision, or work as mascots - which appear not to comply with NMW rules.

44 clubs have been contacted as part of the clampdown.

Michelle Wyer, assistant director of HMRC’s National Minimum Wage team, said: “Paying the National Minimum Wage is not a choice – it’s the law. It can’t be right that as some players are paid millions of pounds, other members of staff are paid below the legal limit.

“HMRC enforces the rules, protecting workers from rogue employers and ensuring they get at least the wage to which they are legally entitled. Where an employer ignores these rules, we will take steps to ensure arrears are paid out in full and the employer fined. In the most serious cases, criminal prosecution can follow.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Tom Keighley .