how do people know

How do so many seem to know what salaries we pay our players I assume it must be published somewhere or the players are telling people. I would have thought the players personal information which would include salaries would be protected by the data protection act.
I know for company account directors salaries are mentioned but not the individual salaries of employees (which players are) My only other guess is people are either just plucking tne figures from tne air or just believe th papers who would just do the same.

I dont really know but the vast majoirty of players are probably getting paid into a registered company rather than be PAYE employees of the club so it could be stated on their individual company returns I guess.