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| Liverpool and Man United are backing a plan to radically change the Premier League’s structure |
The minister who oversees sport in Britain said on Monday he feared a plan by Liverpool and Manchester United to restructure the English Premier League was a power grab that could prompt a deeper look at the governance of the sport.
The two clubs are backing a plan to radically change the Premier Leagueโs structure, giving more power to the big clubs, reducing it to 18 teams from 20 for the 2022-23 season, and scrapping the League Cup and Community Shield.
The plan would see the Premier League commit to providing 25% of the leagueโs revenue to English Football League (EFL) clubs and a 250 million pounds ($326 million) rescue fund to help with the immediate impact of the COVID-19 crisis.
Asked on Sky News if the proposal was a good plan or a power grab, Oliver Dowden, the minister for culture, media and sport, said: โI fear itโs the latter and Iโm quite sceptical about this.โ
He added: โIf we keep having these back room deals going on, weโll have to look at the underlying governance of football. We promised in the manifesto a fan led review, and I must say the events that Iโve seen in the last few weeks have made this seem more urgent again.โ
The plan, which has been backed by the EFL, has already drawn opposition from the Premier League on the grounds that a number of individual proposals within it could have a damaging impact on the game.
The Football Supportersโ Association (FSA) has also opposed the plan.
โUnless the clubs, the Premier League and the EFL can get together urgentlyโฆ it does raise genuine questions about the governance of the sport,โ Dowden added.
โIโm sure many fans โฆ will be thinking to themselves why canโt this sport get its act together at the Premier League and the EFL level in order to help.โ
REUTERS
