Cause For Concern?

A confidential UEFA report warned that the EPL, LaLiga, Bundesliga, Serie A and Ligue 1 are destabilizing soccer in the rest of the continent "by taking increasing amounts of money out of the game." The report is titled Project Famous and was presented to members of UEFA’s Professional Football Strategy Council last week. It states that the big five leagues are "extracting more and more money out of the countries in Europe via TV deals," while the amount going to the other 50 countries from transfer fees has "declined steeply." Those leagues have been the "most outspoken in opposing any expansion of the Champions League." UEFA's report could also "herald a push by UEFA to redistribute its TV income" (LONDON TIMES, 9/5).