Bordeaux places Samuel Kalu and Josh Maja on partial contracts due to league shutdown

FRENCH league side Bordeaux has placed Super Eagles players Samuel Kalu and Josh Maja on partial employment contract on account of the dreaded coronavirus pandemic that has led to the suspension of the football season.

Across Europe, football leagues have all been suspended until further notice as part of the fight against the virus. Apart from not playing matches the players will not train together until further notice due to the public health challenge confronting the world.

Under the partial employment guidelines, by law, Bordeaux can only pay the players 70% of what is due them until the pandemic is sorted out and the club is back in action. Olympique Marseille and Lyon are among the other Ligue One clubs who have placed their players on partial unemployment.

Meanwhile, the president of Saint-Etienne’s supervisory board, Bernard Caiazzo, has said that many professional clubs in France's Ligue One and Ligue Two will declare bankruptcy within six months if the coronavirus pandemic continues to halt football across the country. He added that he fears for the future of his club and those in similar financial situations, with no date in sight for football to resume.

Mr Caiazzo said: “I am very, very, very worried for all the clubs. Without state aid, within six months, half of professional clubs will have to file for bankruptcy. The five major leagues have already lost €4bn and the French league between €500m and €600m.”

Lyon were one of the first big French clubs to adopt the policy of partial unemployment, which sees the state fund a large proportion of the playing staff’s salaries, with many since doing the same. It is expected that all the other clubs in the French league, including Lille where Victor Osimhen plays, will also move towards partial; employment too.