Footballers’ pay up 1,500% in 50 years

Top Premier League footballers have seen pay rises of 1,500% over the past 50 years, many times more than the 186% increase in average wages in Britain, according to a new study.

Players’ wages now account for up to 70% of a club’s turnover, compared with 48% in 1997, research by the High Pay Centre think tank showed.

Fans are paying the price for “excessive” wages, with the cheapest available ticket for top games rising by more than 1,000% since 1989, the report found.

The cheapest ticket to watch Liverpool in 1989 was £4 but now costs £45 (€57).

English football clubs accounted for 56% of all debt in top flight clubs across Europe, while more than half of English league clubs have been insolvent in the past 20 years, according to the study.

Dave Boyle, author of the report said: “Over the last 30 years, we have seen massive increases in players’ salaries. Accompanying this we have witnessed many fans priced out of the market [and] levels of debt that would be un-sustainable in any other business.”