Exorbitant Chief Executive Officer pay has been a significant issue in many countries, for decades. Hundreds of CEOs have a salary that is a ridiculous multiple of other workers at their companies, and it’s usually not tied to CEO performance. CEOs keep getting paid at a sky high level, even when the company often performs poorly.
Whether or not the firm moves in a positive or negative direction, the CEO sees his pay going up. It’s a situation where pay is not earned, and it’s not just. That’s what the Arsenal Supporters Trust see happening at their club.
They want the Arsenal board to explain why £1.1 million bonus was awarded to Arsenal CEO Ivan Gazidis. The amount was a 40% bump over last year’s bonus.
The Arsenal Supporters Trust want leadership at the Emirates to “provide explanation as to what specific performance targets the CEO achieved to warrant” that increase.
The AST said “we can’t be back to the scenario we faced with Nasri and RVP and Cesc,” and will ask the board to confirm that “they are doing all in their power to get these three talismanic players re-signed.”
The AST is also concerned that Arsenal are “losing significant ground” to their rivals when it comes to commercial deals after Chelsea signed new shirt sponsorship and kit deals with Nike.
It’s been 12 years and counting since Arsenal last won the Premier League title. The Gunners have indeed significantly fallen behind rivals Chelsea and Manchester United in sponsorship deals and corporate partnerships. Thus, the Arsenal Supporters Trust makes a very valid point.
Paul M. Banks runs The Sports Bank.net, partnered with FOX Sports Engage Network. and News Now. Banks, a former writer for the Washington Times, currently contributes regularly to the Chicago Tribune’s RedEye publication and Bold Global.
He also consistently appears on numerous radio and television talk shows all across the country. Follow him on Twitter and Instagram and Sound Cloud.