England Player Match Fees

[GibbosEmpire]

Did you know every player has donated their match fee playing for England to charity since 2007?

Apparently they get paid £2,000 per game, which is set low as playing for your country is deemed an honour. So in 2007 a committee with Gary Neville, Beckham, Terry, Gerrard etc organised for all the players to donate their match fee to a charity, and they've continued the tradition ever since.

England players get a lot of stick, and I know they can all afford that, but still I think it's commendable.

 

[BoroPhil]

It is commendable, but worth pointing out it is the equivalent of someone on UK average salary donating around £20.

 

[The_Lizards_Jumpers]

There's no way Terry agreed to it, probably thought it was a donation to Reform or something if he did.

 

[Hicktonite]

It is commendable, but worth pointing out it is the equivalent of someone on UK average salary donating around £20.

Agreed, but think you might be being a bit generous with the £20. I would have thought more like 10 bob (50p if you don't remember the old money).

 

[Tryasize10]

It is commendable, but worth pointing out it is the equivalent of someone on UK average salary donating around £20.

Not really, it's probably worse than that, as majority if not all will use it to offset tax liabilities

 

[Way_Out_West]

Well that went downhill quickly.

 

[parnabyscrosses]

have to laugh at the responses, this board is excellent at putting a negative spin on anything. Miserable b**tards!

 

[Tryasize10]

have to laugh at the responses, this board is excellent at putting a negative spin on anything. Miserable b**tards!

Maybe people are actually taking a view on what this actually represents rather than jumping on it to blow the trumpets of incredibly wealthy individuals.

Doesn't take much critical thinking

 

[KDG]

Felt good after the opening post. Now i hate them all. Come on Norway

 

[The_Lizards_Jumpers]

Not really, it's probably worse than that, as majority if not all will use it to offset tax liabilities

Yeah I'm sure the £24,000 that someone who has played every game in 2026 (assuming we get to the world cup final) would make a huge dent in their tax bill by offsetting it against their £200k a week earnings.

 

[Mustoes boots]

Did you know every player has donated their match fee playing for England to charity since 2007?

Apparently they get paid £2,000 per game, which is set low as playing for your country is deemed an honour. So in 2007 a committee with Gary Neville, Beckham, Terry, Gerrard etc organised for all the players to donate their match fee to a charity, and they've continued the tradition ever since.

England players get a lot of stick, and I know they can all afford that, but still I think it's commendable.

Did you know every player has donated their match fee playing for England to charity since 2007?

Apparently they get paid £2,000 per game, which is set low as playing for your country is deemed an honour. So in 2007 a committee with Gary Neville, Beckham, Terry, Gerrard etc organised for all the players to donate their match fee to a charity, and they've continued the tradition ever since.

England players get a lot of stick, and I know they can all afford that, but still I think it's commendable.

But they still rake in millions on sponsorship and image rights.

 

[smoggieinmanc]

It is commendable, but worth pointing out it is the equivalent of someone on UK average salary donating around £20.

But the £2K appearance fee donated by each player will have a much more positive impact on the selected charities than the average persons £20

 

[Capybara]

There's no way Terry agreed to it, probably thought it was a donation to Reform or something if he did.

BNP if it was 2007.

 

[The_Lizards_Jumpers]

BNP if it was 2007.

Fair, I wonder what ever happened to Nick Griffin, you dont hear much from him anymore do you ?

 

[parnabyscrosses]

Maybe people are actually taking a view on what this actually represents rather than jumping on it to blow the trumpets of incredibly wealthy individuals.

Doesn't take much critical thinking

What are you on about? It’s a free donation. They receive a low match fee and they give it away. How is there any issue at all with that? Miserable!

 

[StrelectricDave]

How can people find fault in any of this, it is a thoughtful charitable act. By all means dislike who you want to, but no doubt about it being a good thing nevertheless.

 

[Middlesbrough123]

I’d be curious what it gets spent on , my opinion on charities has dropped a lot over the yrs . I doubt the contribution get used as much as it could . The wish foundation takes in around $125m yet some how $100m went to lawyers fees , obviously this was USA example.

 

[WilliamMunny]

Not really, it's probably worse than that, as majority if not all will use it to offset tax liabilities

The only tax saving is what they would have paid on the income itself. So instead of the player receiving £2,000 less income tax, instead the charity receives the full £2,000.

 

[Billy Horner]

Yeah I'm sure the £24,000 that someone who has played every game in 2026 (assuming we get to the world cup final) would make a huge dent in their tax bill by offsetting it against their £200k a week earnings.

It wouldn’t even have the small impact that you’re (rightly) suggesting.

In order to offset the tax bill, the money paid to a charity has to be classed as taxable income in the first place. So all that would be happening is putting the players in the exact same tax position as if they’d never received the £2k appearance fee (which, in effect, they haven’t).

 

[Alan_Breck]

It is commendable, but worth pointing out it is the equivalent of someone on UK average salary donating around £20.

I don't think that is the point. The point is that they're not all mercenaries and playing for your country is the honour not the pay.

Unlike the greedy US Ryder Cup team who are all multi-millionares but demand a fee for playing