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A stealth takeover of the Big Six? Or a much-needed reform to protect the future of the soccer pyramid? Welcome to the ‘Project Big Picture’ debate on a possible renewal of the Premier League.
But what do the radical proposals – which have been criticized by the Premier League, the government and fan groups – do they really involve?
BBC Sport analyzes the main issues and asks for your opinion.
Cutting the numbers
Before the formation of the Premier League in 1992, there was a desire to reduce the top flight of English football to 18 teams to cut the number of games and support the national team.
The Football Association argued that eliminating matches would leave players fresher for international matches and tournaments. That stance was also taken by former England bosses Sven-Goran Eriksson and Fabio Capello, who repeatedly called for fewer games and a winter break, but not if clubs were going to fill those dates with lucrative friendlies.
The new proposals would see each Premier League team play four fewer league games.
There would be no changes to the Championship, League One and League Two, all retaining 24 teams.
But the structure of the professional game would be altered, going from 92 clubs to 90 in total, which means that two clubs from League Two would enter the National League.
Removing the League Cup and Community Shield
The plans also call for the abolition of the Community Shield – a game played since 1908-09 – and the League Cup.
Liverpool hold the record for the most League Cup victories, having won it eight times since it was introduced in 1960-61.
Discussions reportedly took place on the maintenance of the League Cup but with no clubs involved in European competition.
Currently, the competition provides additional income for clubs and a route to the Europa League for the winners.
Revised promotion and relegation of the highest category
The top-flight club in 16th place would participate in a tiebreaker tournament with the third, fourth and fifth classified teams of the Championship.
This system was used in 1986-87 and 1987-88, but was later phased out after the old Primera División was reduced from 22 clubs to 20.
The approach is also similar to the promotion and relegation system used in other countries, notably in the German Bundesliga.
New format, new financing?
The economic disparity between clubs in the Premier League and those in the English Football League has grown considerably since 1992, largely due to income from television.
Under the new plans, English as a Foreign Language clubs would receive a £ 250 million rescue fund to help replace lost door receipts and controversial parachute payments, which provides a percentage of broadcast revenue to relegated top-tier clubs for three years, would also be eliminated.
Instead, 25% of TV money it would be leaked to be shared among all EFL clubs.
A new democracy?
Probably the most controversial aspect of the plans: the proposals would also rewrite the current voting structure of the Premier League.
Today, every club has the same status and that means that any new rule or regulation requires the support of at least two-thirds of the clubs (14) to pass.
Nine suits would be given ‘special voting rights’ on certain issues, based on his longevity in the Premier League – currently it’s Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham, Everton, Southampton and West Ham.
A transfer of power would open the door for those clubs to control broadcast contracts, financial rules, and even the power to veto takeover bids at rival clubs.
‘Support’ or a ‘shameless takeover’: the fans’ perspective
Peter Collins: I support money cascading down the pyramid. I don’t mind that the Premier League is cut to 18 teams (although that’s a shame). Similar with Community Shield and EFL Cup, although I would prefer to retain the EFL Cup for teams competing in non-European competitions. Don’t change the voting system. Please. Keep it fair.
Matt Canning: The Liverpool and Man Utd proposals are disgraceful, not even close. The elimination of parachute payments will mean that promoted clubs will not be able to attract players due to the risk of being relegated and will no longer be able to pay their salaries.
Mike Woods: Many of the proposals make sense, but it would be foolish to miss out on making more changes. With so many clubs in financial distress, the EFL should consider scrapping League One and Two and replacing them with separate North and South divisions.
Matt Deeks: Why don’t we form a six-team Super League so that the top six face each other and exclude them from the PL? The PL will be much more competitive and fairer as the top six, and their billions of expenses, will not compete for the trophy. Then give the TV money to the EFL.
Kieran C: Anyone who thinks it is okay for established successful clubs to have the power to veto acquisitions of those trying to improve their circumstances has no stake in the game at heart.
Will be: It is a shameless takeover by the clubs with the most money and laughter in the face of democracy. How about a 10% transfer tax, with the money going to the ESL clubs that need it most?
Analysis
Kieran Maguire, Football Finance Expert on BBC Radio 5 Live
People have been negotiating this deal for three years, so it is not a response to Covid; This has been happening, but Covid-19 is a Trojan horse for the introduction of these proposals.
Some people are trying to promote this as Manchester United and Liverpool are a combination of Santa and Mother Teresa, but that is not the case as they are the clubs that will benefit the most financially from this.
They will be able to sell themselves lucrative rights, have the benefit of an expanded Champions League and they will also be able to participate in lucrative international preseason friendly tours.
There is no doubt that Europe’s top clubs are pushing for some changes to be made to the Champions League and are scheduled for between 2024 and 2025.
Any opportunity for Premier League clubs to play more games [in the Champions League] it is simply impossible with 20 teams in the Premier League, the Carabao Cup, the FA Cup and the Community Shield. This is a way to make room for an expanded European competition, which would benefit those clubs.
The claim that this would benefit the England team is absolutely nonsense. Players will not play fewer games, just fewer Premier League games.
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