The decision of Premier League clubs to abandon an agreement that would share more money with the English Soccer League It sparked anger and frustration Tuesday within the game and across Westminster.
With EFL clubs without a bid and the government embarrassed after pushing for a deal this week, the prospect of an accelerated passage of the football governance bill and, with it, an independent regulator strengthened. for the English game.
On Monday, Premier League clubs received a bid for the EFL by CEO Richard Masters. The proposed deal would have transferred more than £900m into the football pyramid but would also have imposed a new set of financial cost controls on the top flight. It is understood that several clubs were in favor of making the offer, but not enough to approve the Premier League rule requiring 14 of 20 clubs to give their consent. The offer did not come to a vote, and the league executive was instead asked to participate in a new process to evaluate cost controls. The Premier League insists this process can be completed before the summer.
The result took 10 Downing Street by surprise, as the expectation within the Prime Minister's Office was that a deal would be reached. Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer had spent the previous weeks meeting with first division and EFL clubs, arguing that this would be the last chance to reach a deal without government intervention.
Sources close to discussions about the regulator say this week's events may have given the government clues. Government sources said an agreement would be reached and that “if the football authorities do not solve it, the regulator will.” In turn, Premier League sources have suggested that the government has put undue pressure on the process by making public demands.
The league was criticized by the chair of the multi-party committee on sport and cultural media, Caroline Dinenage, who said that “the stated commitment of the Premier League clubs to reach an agreement with the rest of the pyramid seems nothing more than a promise empty”. . Sky Sports' Gary Neville said it was an “absolute disgrace” for the league to “continue to move forward (with a deal) in the future”.
Charlton Athletic minority owner Charlie Methven accused two clubs of delaying the process, claiming West Ham and Crystal Palace were against a deal. “There are some Premier League clubs who are holding the industry back and driving the rest of the industry crazy by thinking only of their own narrow, short-term interests,” Methven told TalkSport. “It is on record that Palace and West Ham are leaders of this King Canute-style movement. (They) need to grow.”
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The Guardian understands that West Ham vice-chairwoman Karren Brady received an apology from Charlton for Methven's comments. She has contacted West Ham and Palace for comment.
