Leading clubs Liverpool and Manchester United have threatened to leave the Premier League to push for a change in English football that would give them more power and wealth.
Greg Clarke, president of the Football Football Association, issued a warning by elite clubs earlier this year as to the reason for withdrawing from negotiations on “Project Big Picture”, which was only made public on Sunday.
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Plans – if approved – would pledge to redistribute more Premier League cash to English Football League’s professional teams. But what is woven into the preamble is the transformation of power structures in the Premier League – it is also angering the supporters of the elite club who will benefit the most. From 2022 the number of teams will be reduced from 20 to 18, and nine long-serving clubs will gain more control – with only six changes allowed.
The FA could block the competition’s overall, Clarke said, using his “special share” in the Premier League, which was created in 1992 when he left the EFL.
“At the end of late spring, when the main purpose of these discussions was to concentrate power and wealth in the hands of some of the clubs in the breakaway league,” Clarke wrote to members of the FA Council. Advised a more consensual approach involving clubs and their presidents and CEOs. Our game needs to be constantly improved but the benefits need to be shared. “
The Premier League said plans drawn up by the American owners of Liverpool and United with EFL president Rick Perry would be detrimental to the English game, especially as it could increase inequality. Project Big Picture is meant to sell the clubs their own right to a live match that will see the most popular clubs generate the most cash.
The elite can use their new power later to push through new structural changes or revenue distribution. EFL clubs supporting the plan are also in doubt, including Preston, who won the first two editions of the English Championship in 1889 and 1890.
“If I’m fairly clear, do I believe [Premier League’s] The top six today regardless of these proposals? No, I don’t, “said Peter Reedsdale, an adviser to Preston’s owner, after participating in a second-level championship call-up between clubs.” I don’t think some of them believe in the pyramids. I think some of them believe in the franchise system as you see in the United States. “
He will see the teams go without a threat of looting in the Premier League.
“Is that a concern? 100% is it,” Ridsdale said. “However, today the football league has a unique opportunity, if in the long run the football league can stay at this table to keep the league potential, while in the short term this is a real threat.”
Reedsdale is aware of the Premier League’s power mechanisms and financial difficulties – after becoming Leeds’ president when he reached the Champions League semi-finals in 2001, he went beyond his means and threatened the club’s existence. Leeds were relegated from the Premier League in 2004 and have returned this season.
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“Going forward there will be six clubs that will decide what will happen to the Premier League, and English football by definition,” Ridsell said. “It’s a piece that’s clearly missing and needs to be fixed.”
Ahead of the Virtual Premier League meeting on Wednesday, United and Liverpool have not commented on the controversial plans and Perry has stopped advocating to anger the public over their fierce opposition. Groups of supporters at United, Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham and Manchester City said they were “totally opposed to the centralization of power in the hands of six billionaire owners and the abolition of the league’s collective religion.”
This part of the proposal should be dropped immediately if other elements are to be seriously considered, they said in a statement.
The FA is resisting reform, despite promising to give the board of directors a gift of 100 100 million ($ 130 million) to help deal with the impact of the epidemic and to help reduce annual revenue.
“There’s a lot more to our game than economics,” Clarke said. “Clubs, fans and players should reap the benefits of change; not just balance sheets of choice. The interests of a few should be overridden for unity, transparency and common purpose in these difficult times.”
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