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FA President Greg Clarke says he walked away from the ‘Project Big Picture’ talks in the spring “when the main focus of these discussions became the concentration of power and wealth in the hands of a few clubs with a separatist league regarded as a threat. “
He said in a letter to the FA Council: “I, of course, stopped participating and recommended a more consensus-based approach involving all Premier League clubs and their president and CEO.”
He warned that the FA had “substantial controls” that it could use to thwart any proposal it believed would go against the best interests of the game.
Liverpool owners have put together a proposal to change the voting structure of the Premier League, as well as the funding models of the English League and Football Association, which is supported by Manchester United.
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The proposal, called ‘Project Big Picture’, includes several other major changes to the structure of English football, with a reduction from 20 to 18 teams in the Premier League and the elimination of the EFL Cup and Community Shield.
The plans have led a member of the board of directors of a Premier League club to claim that there is an agreement between 14 clubs that EFL president Rick Parry should resign from them.
Clarke added: “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 the best interests of the game are served by any new proposals.
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“In addition to special participation in the Premier League, which prevents certain changes to the constitution from being made without the FA’s consent, it is also the FA’s responsibility to sanction competitions in England, including any proposed new competitions, as well as to be responsible to grant licenses to clubs, through UEFA, to play in Europe.In addition, UEFA expects us to nominate the league, and therefore the clubs, to play in their competitions.
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“Let us continue to work together to determine what is best for English football, with full dialogue between all key stakeholders.
“However, there is more to our game than the economy. Change must 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”.
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‘Big Six’ supporters against Project Big Picture plans
Fans of the ‘big six’ Premier League clubs – Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United and Tottenham – have issued a statement saying they do not support Project Big Picture’s proposals.
The statement, issued on behalf of six groups of club fans, underscored the need for fans to be consulted on any proposed restructuring of the game in England.
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The statement read: “While it is widely reported that the six clubs we support are the instigators of Project Big Picture, it is important that we state very clearly that we do not support the proposals in their current form.
“The Premier League has rightly said that all stakeholders should be involved in discussions about the future of the game. And yet, fans have not had the courtesy of any communication or consultation on these plans before they were published on the last Sunday, even though it’s supposedly three years. ” in process.
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“By floating this latest plan, its supporters are recognizing that football must reform. It is something we have been saying for many years.
“There are some suggestions in this plan that have merit. But we are totally opposed to concentrating power in the hands of six billionaire owners and leaving one club, one vote and the collective spirit of the Premier League. This part of the proposal must be discarded. immediately if other items need to be seriously considered. “
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