Senior officials from Liverpool and ManU discussed ideas in secret for several yearsGETTY IMAGES
England's Football Association reportedly "would use its 'golden share' to block a power grab by the big clubs" in the EPL led by Liverpool and ManU, according to Ziegler, Lawton & Dicksonson of the LONDON TIMES. The plan, dubbed "Project Big Picture," would enable the EPL's "big six" -- Arsenal, Tottenham, Chelsea, Liverpool, ManU and Man City -- to "seize control of decision-making as well as a larger share of revenue." The move is "fronted publicly" by the English Football League Chair Rick Parry, and it "has been condemned" by the EPL and the government. The FA received its "golden share" when the EPL was established in '92, giving the body a "key vote on significant decisions." The FA "would, however, not be in a position to veto a plan until it is formally submitted." It is "understood that at least two of the other four big-six clubs have reservations about the plan." Any change would need 14 out of 20 votes of the EPL clubs "as well as for the FA to agree." An emergency meeting of EPL clubs "will be held tomorrow or Wednesday, when the plan will be raised" (LONDON TMES, 10/12).
DETAILS OF PLAN: The LONDON TIMES' Matt Lawton cites sources as saying that Parry "invited the six clubs to break away" from the EPL and join the EFL, which comprises the three divisions below the EPL. The plan was "described by one senior figure last night as a 'reverse takeover.'" Under the proposals, the big six "would be able to determine policy on broadcasting deals as well as the share of revenue, and would even be able to veto proposed takeovers" at other clubs. The EPL "would be reduced from 20 to 18 teams, with the League Cup and the Community Shield scrapped." Parry said that the EFL "should support the plan because it would seal" a US$326M COVID bailout for soccer below the EPL and "mark the end of parachute payments," or money paid to relegated clubs. The FA would receive what has been described as a $130M "gift." Parry "dismissed criticism of his decision to reveal his plan to a national newspaper yesterday." Parry: "This is actually about coming out with a bold plan for the future. And if that doesn't please everybody, frankly, so be it" (LONDON TMES, 10/12).
WHOLESALE CHANGES: In N.Y., Tariq Panja reports the reforms "would remake the structure that governs English soccer's four professional leagues and replace it with what those behind the idea have pitched as a more sustainable model." The proposals amount to the "biggest changes in English soccer in more than a quarter of a century." They would "transfer critical decision-making power in the league from the consensus-driven model that has been at its core for three decades to one in which a handful of the richest teams get a bigger say." Senior officials from Liverpool and ManU had "discussed ideas in secret for several years," with other clubs and the EPL "brought into the talks only recently." The EPL "reacted with frustration" yesterday. It said in a statement that the talks "should have been carried out in a more open and inclusive manner" (N.Y. TIMES, 10/12).
CHANGES TO PROMOTION PLACES: In London, Sam Wallace reports there have been additional discussions that the League Cup "would survive but without the participation of the clubs" competing in European competitions. There "would be two automatic promotion places for Championship clubs, but the third, fourth and fifth placed clubs would be in a play-off tournament" with the 16th placed EPL club. While the EPL would reduce to 18 teams, there still "would be 24 in each of the Championship, League One and League Two making a total of 90." The Revitalisation document "calls for immediate action to cut dramatically what it calls the 'revenue chasm' in earnings from television contracts" between the EPL and the EFL. In order to "discourage Championship clubs from gambling recklessly on promotion, the parachute payments system would be abolished in favour" of the 25% share of EPL revenue being "shared more equitably among EFL clubs" (London TELEGRAPH, 10/12).
For more on this developing story, see Monday's issue of SBD Global.
