Labour Party Floats Levy On EPL TV Rights To Support Grassroots Football

Britain's Labour Party has accused Premier League clubs of "not contributing enough to grassroots football and suggested that they may be compelled to pay a levy on revenue from television rights," according to Pickard & Blitz of the FINANCIAL TIMES. Shadow Culture Secretary Harriet Harman "is also considering a levy on sports betting to support community sport and help raise awareness of problem gambling." Harman said said she would “get tough with the Premier League and betting companies” while persuading more youngsters to practice sport in schools. In a '99 agreement, the Premier League agreed to contribute 5% of domestic TV revenues toward grassroots funding. That deal expired and has not been renewed. Labour is concerned that many clubs "have failed to hit that funding target, meaning that sums going to community and local level sport have fallen short." Labour is hoping a new code will be voluntary, but is not against "the idea of making the levy compulsory" (FINANCIAL TIMES, 7/24).