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The top division could bail out the EFL with a £ 250m payment, but the Premier League is concerned that the plans could damage English football.
The Premier League warned that a plan strongly backed by Liverpool and leading to drastic reforms of English football, including reducing the top flight to 18 teams, would have a “detrimental impact” on the game.
The English Football League (EFL) is seeking a £ 250 million ($ 326 million) ransom to cover losses suffered as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
The plan, originally proposed by EFL president and former Premier League and Liverpool chief executive Rick Parry and heavily supported by the Reds and others, would see the top flight pay that sum through a loan.
The Football Association would also receive a one-time payment of £ 100 million ($ 130 million) to help deal with the Covid-19 crisis and support the women’s game, as well as the out-of-league and grassroots levels.
In exchange, however, the nine longest-serving Premier League teams would receive special status and the division’s ‘big six’ – Liverpool, United, Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester City and Tottenham – would be given the collective power to make major changes.
These would include changing rules, contracts, club ownership and the removal of the CEO. Everton, West Ham and Southampton would make up the rest of the teams receiving special status.
Meanwhile, the Premier League would be reduced by two teams, while only two teams would automatically be relegated to the Championship, and another would enter a play-off tournament with the third, fourth, and fifth teams at the second tier.
The Premier League has voiced criticism of the plans, claiming that some of the proposals could end up hurting English football.
“Both the Premier League and the FA support a broad discussion on the future of the game, including its competition structures, schedule and overall funding, particularly in light of the effects of Covid-19,” a statement published Sunday read .
“Football has many stakeholders, so this work must be carried out through the right channels that allow all clubs and stakeholders the opportunity to contribute.
“From a Premier League point of view, several of the individual proposals in the plan released today could have a detrimental impact on the entire game and we are disappointed to see that EFL President Rick Parry has provided his record-breaking support.
“The Premier League has been working in good faith with its clubs and the EFL to seek a resolution to the Covid-19 bailout funding requirement. This work will continue.”
As part of the proposals, the Premier League season would also start in late August to allow the friendliest preseason clubs, while all clubs would have to compete in a summer tournament every five years. Also, the EFL Cup and Community Shield will be abolished.
There would also be changes to the Premier League loan rules, allowing clubs to send 15 players to other teams in England and up to four to a single club.
Additionally, 6% of the Premier League’s gross revenue would go to pay for stadium upgrades in the four major leagues and home tickets would be capped at £ 20, with subsidies for traveling fans and return to safe standing areas.
The proposals seek to address concerns about the funding gap between the lower divisions and the Premier League by handing over more than 25 percent of annual revenue, while ending the parachute payment system for relegated top-flight teams. .
