The Premier League fixture list is reportedly "engineered to stop the biggest clubs playing each other on the final day of the season," according to Ben Rumsby of the London TELEGRAPH. The top six teams over a three-year period "are also kept apart in the opening round of games" and on FA Cup semifinal weekend, according to the tender document for the U.K. TV rights to the EPL. That document "contains an entire section on the scheduling" of what are called "Top 6 Club Matches" and "Top 8 Club Matches." Defined as games between clubs with the "highest average finishing positions in the Premier League competition over the three seasons immediately preceding that season," the document stipulates that "not less than one Top 6 Club Match shall be scheduled to be played as part of twenty-six different weekend fixture programmes during that season (which weekend fixture programmes shall always exclude the opening weekend fixture programme of each season, the final fixture programme of each season and the weekend on which the FA Cup semi-finals are scheduled to be played)." Such a policy "appears already to be in place," with ManU, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea, Tottenham and Man City "kept apart on those same dates this term" (TELEGRAPH, 5/7). In London, Martyn Ziegler reported the document states that there will be at least one match between two clubs in the "top eight" in every round of fixtures. This is to "ensure that there is at least one big game as a potential highlight each week." It could be argued that the arrangement "gives the bigger clubs the guarantee of an easy start to the season," although Premier League insiders "insist that it does not affect the integrity of the competition" as every club still has to play each other home and away, "and there are other fixture considerations." The EPL appears to have changed the formula for determining the "top six" to "eliminate the impact of blips in a team’s fortunes." That "in itself is potentially controversial, especially given the dispute between the bigger and smaller clubs over the division of overseas TV money." The so-called "big six" (Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham and the two Manchester clubs) "are also the top six in terms of average league finishes over the previous three seasons" (LONDON TIMES, 5/8). Ziegler also reported sources said that the EPL's arrangement is in place "for commercial reasons to appeal to broadcasters and to boost attendances at matches on the final weekend." Some supporters’ groups "have expressed concern that this gives special treatment to the bigger clubs." A spokesperson for the Arsenal Supporters’ Trust said, "We are very concerned about this apparent designation of an elite group of top-six clubs. Every Premier League club should be treated equally, and we also do not agree with this push for them to receive a bigger share of TV money." The Football Supporters’ Federation said that it was "unaware of the Premier League’s arrangement." FSF CEO Kevin Miles said, "This is certainly news to us and we look forward to holding discussions with the Premier League about the pros and cons of it" (LONDON TIMES, 5/8).
