Footballers’ union the PFA hand their chief exec Maheta Molango a 30% pay rise to rocket his salary to £650,000 – and pin it on the cost of living crisis

• Maheta Molango’s annual salary will rise from £500,000 to £650,000 
• Molango replaced Gordon Taylor as PFA CEO in 2021 
• Listen to the latest episode of Mail Sport’s podcast It’s All Kicking Off! 

The Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) has reportedly cited the cost of living crisis as the motivating factor behind its decision to hand its chief executive a 30 percent salary increase.

According to The Times, Maheta Molango’s annual salary will rise from £500,000 to £650,000 following his first pay review in two years.

The increase has been motivated by Britain’s ongoing economic crisis, which has seen inflation and the cost of goods and services skyrocket. 

According to the most recent data from the Office for National Statistics, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) rose by 6.7 percent in the 12 months to September 2023.

By comparison, it reached a peaked of 11.1 percent in October last year. 

PFA chief executive Maheta Molango is set for a 30 percent salary increase

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Molango is the highest-paid union boss in Britain and his salary was set at £500,000 when he replaced Gordon Taylor as PFA boss two years ago.

His predecessor’s salary exceeded £2million a year and a governance review recommended a significant overhaul of the way the PFA CEO’s salary is set.

A remuneration committee composed of the PFA’s operational board and players’ board discusses a figure, which is then signed off by the two boards.

Under Taylor’s stewardship, meanwhile, salary decisions were taken by the business advisory committee of the then PFA charitable trust.

At the time, Taylor was both the PFA CEO and a trustee of the charity. Molango’s predecessor was appointed PFA chairman in 1978, before taking over as CEO three years later.

Molango played six times for Brighton and had loan spells with Oldham Athletic and Lincoln City between 2004 and 2007.

Born in Switzerland, he studied law in Madrid, and has practiced in Spain and in the United States.

Prior to his appointment at the PFA, he was chief executive of Spanish outfit Real Mallorca. 

Molango replaced Gordon Taylor, who stepped down in 2021 after 40 years as PFA CEO

Following two promotions with Mallorca, Molango was sacked with the team bottom of La Liga in 2020.

Two weeks later, he was reported in Spain to have been questioned as part of a money-laundering investigation into Albanian agent Fali Ramadani, who has been charged with a number of offences. 

Molango did not face any charges. 

The PFA’s move to appoint the 41-year-old came under scrutiny amid major concerns about the recruitment process.

The PFA’s move to appoint the 41-year-old came under scrutiny amid major concerns about the recruitment process

In 2021, Mail Sport reported PFA staff received ‘negative endorsements’ when asking for references for Molango.

Molango’s suitability for the role was not the only concern, with the lack of transparency during the process also causing disquiet.

The PFA’s selection panel —Darren Hardman (Amazon), Trevor Johnson (TikTok), Geoff Thompson (a former karate champion) and Ebru Koksal — held final interviews after recruitment firm Savannah compiled a shortlist.

But some believe the panel lacked relevant experience, with only Koksal, through her roles at Women in Football, Galatasaray and FIFA, offering substantial football understanding.

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