The staggering cost to Newcastle United of football's shutdown

Premier League clubs stand to lose £1billion if the season isn’t restarted.
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Football was suspended last month due to the coronavirus pandemic – and Newcastle United and Tottenham Hotspur have furloughed staff on 80% of their wages using a Government scheme.

That decision provoked a backlash, and Liverpool abandoned a plan to follow suit.

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League One club Sunderland has gone further and furloughed its players amid talks over pay cuts and deferrals.

However, Premier League chief executive Richard Masters, in a letter to a parliamentary select committee for digital, culture, media and sport, said: “Like much of the productive economy in the UK, we are losing revenue at an unprecedented level.

“We’re losing revenue at an unprecedented level. We face a £1 billion loss, at least, if we fail to complete season 2019/20 and further losses going forward if the seriousness of the pandemic deepens and extends into the future.

“Ultimately, the very heavy losses that we face will have to be dealt with, or else clubs and other enterprises who depend on football for income will go out of business. We do not say this lightly, or to justify clubs’ decisions – it’s a very real threat.”

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Sportingintelligence have broken that figure down on a club-by-club basis. They estimate that Newcastle United will lose £40.3million in broadcast, matchday and commercial revenue.

The club, which is 13th in the Premier League with 35 points, has nine games left to play.