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Footballers pay less – much less – social security contributions

16:03 19/03/2018

Two political parties would like to see professional footballers pay the same percentage of taxes as everyone else. The deal cut a decade ago with football clubs is no longer realistic, say Flemish parties Open VLD and CD&V.

It’s no secret that Belgium’s tax rates are high: Workers pay 38% of their salaries to a package of social benefits, including social security, unemployment, sick leave and disability. But not professional footballers.

Football clubs struck a deal with the government some 10 years back that Division A players would pay this set of taxes according to a monthly gross salary of €2,281. That means each player pays a maximum of €868 per month in social security taxes.

But the average monthly salary of a Division A footballer is actually €28,000 a month, according to the political parties. Which means the government is losing a cool €70 million in taxes a year.

‘Indefensible’

“This preferential treatment is indefensible,” federal MP Roel Deseyn (CD&V) told De Standaard. “The hardest working people don’t earn in 50 years what top footballers get. And then they get to pay less social security? Everyone has to pay into the system – even King Football.”

Although Open VLD MP Luk Van Biesen said that he agreed that the amount should be increased, he didn’t think it should become 38%. “That would make the salaries unaffordable,” he told the paper. “And the most valuable player could get much more easily snapped up by foreign clubs. We would no longer be able to offer a competitive salary package.”

Federal minister of social affairs, Maggie De Block, in fact, agrees with that. “People like to see strong football competition, and for that you need good players,” she said. “A system such as the one in place can help with that.”

Photo: Laurie Dieffembacq/BELGA

Written by Lisa Bradshaw