‘Breakaway League considered a threat’ in Project Big Picture

by



[ad_1]

Publication date: Tuesday, October 13, 2020 5:37 AM

A separatist league was “viewed as a threat” in Project Big Picture discussions, Soccer Association president Greg Clarke said.

Clarke revealed in a letter to the FA Council that he had been part of the initial discussions until late spring, when he left.

At the time, he claims that “the main objective of these discussions became the concentration of power and wealth in the hands of a few clubs, with a dissident league posed as a threat.”

He added: “I, of course, stopped participating and advised a more consensus-based approach involving all Premier League clubs and their president and CEO. Our game must continually seek to improve, but the benefits must be shared. “

The Big Picture Project discussions have been led by Liverpool and Manchester United and made public on Sunday.

The plans are also backed by EFL President Rick Parry, and PBP’s proposals include an immediate £ 250 million bailout for clubs in his private match-day revenue competition from the coronavirus pandemic and a stake. promised 25 percent of future Premier League broadcasting revenue.

However, the plans have come under fire for proposals that appear to concentrate power in the hands of the Premier League’s big six, including broadcast deals, club ownership and the makeup of the league’s board of directors.

READ MORE: So what the heck is the Premier League Project Big Picture?

Clarke cautioned that the FA had “substantial controls” that it could apply if it felt that any proposal was presented that was contrary to the interests of the game, and that any dissenting competition would not be sanctioned by the FA.

“We, the FA Board and Council, have to ensure that any changes are in the long-term benefit of all of football and we have substantial controls in place to help ensure that new proposals serve the best interests of the game,” he said.

“In addition to the special participation in the Premier League, which prevents certain changes to the constitution being made without the consent of the FA, it is also the responsibility of the FA to sanction competitions in England, including any proposed new competitions, as well as being responsible to grant licenses to clubs, through UEFA, to play in Europe. Furthermore, UEFA expects us to nominate the league, and therefore the clubs, to play in its competitions.

“Let us continue to work together to determine what is best for English football, with full dialogue between all key stakeholders.

“However, our game is more than economics. The change should benefit clubs, fans and players, not just selective balance sheets. In these difficult times, unity, transparency and common purpose must prevail over the interests of a few ”.

The FA Council will meet on Thursday.

Before that, Parry has addressed EFL clubs about the PBP proposals on Tuesday, while Premier League clubs hold a shareholders meeting on Wednesday.

A source close to PBP’s plans accepts that the proposals are radical, but insists that radical solutions are required to protect the pyramid of English football.

They have told the Palestinian Authority news agency that they are intended to serve as a starting point for a discussion on the sustainability of the pyramid and the match schedule.

While several EFL clubs have cautiously embraced the plans as a useful starting point for a discussion on the broader governance of the game, the Football Fans Association has described them as “a sugar coated cyanide pill.”

An FSA statement said: “We are not defending the status quo, but ‘Project Big Picture’ is not the answer.

“Within the proposals are individual ideas that many fans would support, but in this way it is impossible to unravel them from the results that would be a disaster for the game.

“The Premier League and the Government have to step up and deliver an alternative financial package urgently for the EFL and the National League. You must cover lost door receipts and match day earnings. And urgently means details in hours, not days or weeks. Days or weeks means that the clubs go out of business.

“Days or weeks mean that ESL clubs are tempted by the sugar-coated cyanide pill offered by billionaire owners who don’t understand or care about our football culture.”



[ad_2]