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?
