Government orders United, Chelsea, Liverpool to pay up
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Big Four break-up: United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal told to hand cash to rivals by Government
The Government wants to break up the Big Four by calling for them to hand over their Champions League and TV cash to the rest of Barclays Premier League clubs.
The plea to redistribute football's billions comes after high level talks with the Premier League, Football League and the FA.
Although there is widespread concern about the dominance of Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal, the dominant clubs are bound to resist an attack on their revenues - particularly given their collective debts.
Champions League cash, worth £15million-£40m to each qualifying clubs each season, would be shared out among the 20 clubs in England's top division under the scheme, as would the Premier League's £1bn TV and sponsorship revenue.
Currently, 50 per cent is distributed among all the clubs, 25 per cent is paid out according to finishing places, and 25 per cent is allotted to the number of TV appearances.
The admirable aim by Culture Secretary Andy Burnham is to create a more level playing field, but goes against the motivation for creating a Premier League in the first place, which put TV money in the hands of an elite 20 rather than the league's 92.
The big clubs hold the power and previous attempts to tinker with the Champions League have led to rumblings that Europe's top teams would breakaway to form their own competition.
Nevertheless, the Government have chosen an eye-catching fight and insist they are acting in the interest of the sport and its fans.
The proposals follow talks held in October with football's power brokers on areas including governance, financial regulation and debt.
A Department for Culture, Media and Sport spokesman said: 'We are continuing to have good and productive discussions with the Premier League on their response to the questions posed to the football authorities last autumn.
'We are pleased that the Premier League have stepped up to the plate and are discussing changes that would improve the development of the game at the highest level in this country.
'We have made it clear that it is not Government's job to run football but to challenge the game on issues that are in the public interest and we will continue to do that as part of our ongoing dialogue.'
UEFA president Michel Platini is also a critic of the Premier League's dominance, but the English model for success is admired by many.
The free market approach has made the Premier League arguably the most popular in the world and England is now seen as the prime destination for most top international footballers.
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He thinks their Robin Hood?
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red eye .....
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Originally posted by Trump_Card:
Big Four break-up: United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal told to hand cash to rivals by Government
The Government wants to break up the Big Four by calling for them to hand over their Champions League and TV cash to the rest of Barclays Premier League clubs.
The plea to redistribute football's billions comes after high level talks with the Premier League, Football League and the FA.
Although there is widespread concern about the dominance of Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal, the dominant clubs are bound to resist an attack on their revenues - particularly given their collective debts.
Champions League cash, worth £15million-£40m to each qualifying clubs each season, would be shared out among the 20 clubs in England's top division under the scheme, as would the Premier League's £1bn TV and sponsorship revenue.
Currently, 50 per cent is distributed among all the clubs, 25 per cent is paid out according to finishing places, and 25 per cent is allotted to the number of TV appearances.
The admirable aim by Culture Secretary Andy Burnham is to create a more level playing field, but goes against the motivation for creating a Premier League in the first place, which put TV money in the hands of an elite 20 rather than the league's 92.
The big clubs hold the power and previous attempts to tinker with the Champions League have led to rumblings that Europe's top teams would breakaway to form their own competition.
Nevertheless, the Government have chosen an eye-catching fight and insist they are acting in the interest of the sport and its fans.
The proposals follow talks held in October with football's power brokers on areas including governance, financial regulation and debt.
A Department for Culture, Media and Sport spokesman said: 'We are continuing to have good and productive discussions with the Premier League on their response to the questions posed to the football authorities last autumn.
'We are pleased that the Premier League have stepped up to the plate and are discussing changes that would improve the development of the game at the highest level in this country.
'We have made it clear that it is not Government's job to run football but to challenge the game on issues that are in the public interest and we will continue to do that as part of our ongoing dialogue.'
UEFA president Michel Platini is also a critic of the Premier League's dominance, but the English model for success is admired by many.
The free market approach has made the Premier League arguably the most popular in the world and England is now seen as the prime destination for most top international footballers.
ridiculous, so other team that can't get in also have to pay to the rest?