Premier League clubs generated £3.3B in tax revenue and contributed £7.6B to the economy during the '16-17 season, per analysis published on Thursday, according to Hughes & Ziegler of the LONDON TIMES. The clubs "are likely to use the findings to push for new immigration arrangements that give them freedom to recruit players from all over the world after Brexit." The 20 clubs’ contribution to the economy "has grown significantly" since the last study of its kind on the '13-14 season, with the tax yield increasing by almost 50% from £2.4B to £3.3B and the estimated figure for Gross Value Added economic activity more than doubling from £3.4B to £7.6B. Of the £3.3B generated in tax revenues, £1.1B is estimated to come from the players. Of the £7.6B contribution to the U.K.'s GDP, £4.3B comes from the clubs, "with the result that they now support the equivalent of almost 100,000 full-time jobs," an increase of 30% since '13-14. EPL Exec Dir Bill Bush said that there was concern that a "no-deal Brexit would cause disruption to the league." He added that any resolution of the dispute with the FA over work permits after Brexit "was impossible until the precise terms of Britain’s withdrawal from Europe are known." Bush: "The broad position before the referendum was that on balance the clubs were cautious Remainers. There are Brexit outcomes which could be quite positive for the Premier League and Brexit outcomes which could be harmful" (LONDON TIMES, 1/24).
