LONDON 3 Apr (ANA) - Highly-paid Premier League players are coming under pressure to follow the example of some of their fellow professionals at the biggest clubs in Europe and take a cut in salary during the coronavirus pandemic.

Leading politicians have weighed in while discussions are ongoing between the Premier League, Football League and the players' union over the highly-charged issue.

Some observers fear that if the standoff continues much longer, it could cause damage to the brand of the Premier League, Europe's wealthiest league.

Premier League club chairmen are likely on Friday to push back further the date for a resumption of the season.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock -- whose department has come in for significant criticism over testing and preparedness to combat the pandemic -- made no bones about where he stood on the issue of salaries.

Asked on Thursday whether it was ethical for clubs to put non-playing staff on the government-funded furlough scheme as Tottenham have done, Hancock said everyone needed to play a part in the fightback against coronavirus.

"That means Premier League footballers too," he told a news conference.

"Given the sacrifices that many people are making, including some of my colleagues in the NHS (National Health Service) who've made the ultimate sacrifice of going into work, and have caught the disease and have sadly died, I think the first thing Premier League footballers can do is make a contribution, take a pay cut and play their part."

The players have increasingly come under pressure after last year's beaten Champions League finalists Tottenham as well as Newcastle put non-playing staff on the government-funded furlough scheme.

It guarantees 80 percent of salaries up to a maximum of £2,500 ($3,100, 2,850 euros) per month.

The players' union, the Professional Footballers' Association (PFA) -- whose chief Gordon Taylor is the highest paid union official in the United Kingdom -- issued a statement saying the clubs should pay the non-playing staff.

"We are aware of the public sentiment that the players should pay non-playing staff's salaries," it read.

"However, our current position is that -- as businesses -- if clubs can afford to pay their players and staff, they should.

"Any use of the government's support schemes without genuine financial need is detrimental to the wider society.

"In instances where clubs have the resources to pay all staff, the benefit of players paying non-playing staff salaries will only serve the business of the club's shareholders."(ANA)

FA/ANA/3 April 2020-----