Premier League chiefs fail to reach agreement on redistribution of TV money as clubs agree to take more time to discuss Big Six's demands for bigger cut of foreign broadcast cash

  • Chairmen and executives from all 20 Premier League clubs were at meeting 
  • Talks, as expected, focused on the distribution of foreign TV broadcast money
  • No decision was made as all agreed to take more time for further discussion 
  • The 'Big Six' clubs all want the cash to be handed out based on finishing position
  • Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville has warned against the plan
  • Premier League meeting Q&A: A plan so toxic, even Neville wants United to lose

By Charles Sale for the Daily Mail

Published: | Updated:

Premier League chief Richard Scudamore was on the retreat on Wednesday after a critical club vote that threatened his control of the top flight was adjourned.

The executive chairman had been working round the clock to gain the necessary 14-6 majority for the rule change wanted by the Big Six clubs.

The Manchester clubs, Liverpool, Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham want 35 per cent of overseas money to be allocated by league placings rather than shared equally — as has been the case since the Premier League was formed in 1992.


Manchester United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward arrives at the Marriot in London

Manchester United executive vice-chairman Ed Woodward arrives at the Marriot in London

Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore is discussing a the division of TV money
United , City, Chelsea, Tottenham, Liverpool and Arsenal are all pushing for 35 per cent of the overseas broadcast rights to be divided on league placing

Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore is discussing a the division of TV money

Bruce Buck arrives at Grovenour Square
Daniel Levy, the Tottenham chairman, makes his way into the talks

Chelsea chairman Bruce Buck and his Tottenham counterpart Daniel Levy attend the meeting

Steve Parish, chairman of Crystal Palace, turns up to the meeting involving all 20 teams

Steve Parish, chairman of Crystal Palace, turns up to the meeting involving all 20 teams

Stoke chairman Peter Coates is among the majority of executives against the 'Big Six' idea

Stoke chairman Peter Coates is among the majority of executives against the 'Big Six' idea

But it became obvious, when soundings were taken from the 20 clubs before the proposed vote at Wednesday's London summit, that Scudamore was nowhere near achieving his goal.

Other than the Big Six, only Leicester, West Ham and Everton — plus possibly Newcastle — were in favour.

But that still left half of the Premier League owners not prepared to cede so much money to the big clubs, who believe they should be rewarded for driving the rise in price of overseas rights.

The American owners of Bournemouth, Crystal Palace and Swansea all believe that the value of their clubs would fall significantly if they receive a smaller share.

If the vote had taken place with its current level of support, it would have been a major setback to Scudamore.

Until this issue, he had always championed the unity of the 20 clubs, which has been the bedrock for the Premier League becoming the richest football competition in the world. But the adjournment, unanimously agreed by the clubs, has given him time to come up with a formula that both sides can accept.

West Ham's vice-chairman Karren Brady is believed to be in favour of 'Big Six' TV deal proposal
West Ham co-chair David Gold departs the meeting in central London

Karren Brady's thought to a favour 'Big Six' deal, West Ham chair David Gold exits the meeting

Ivan Gazidis, Arsenal chief executive, is another top club official pushing the 'Big Six' idea

Ivan Gazidis, Arsenal chief executive, is another top club official pushing the 'Big Six' idea

One idea being mooted, which would certainly achieve more support among the divided clubs, is for the 35 per cent split to only come into play for overseas money in the next contract from 2019-20 above the £3billion figure in the current deal. 

So no clubs would lose out and the expectation is for the overseas market to increase significantly compared to the £5bn domestic one at the next tender.

Facebook’s head of sports did not rule out a bid for Premier League broadcast rights, with the next set of deals to be auctioned next year.

Dan Reed said: ‘The Premier League is a very important partner of ours... but it would be premature to speculate on how we might approach that opportunity.’

Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville has voiced his concerns over the proposal from the 'Big Six'

Sky Sports pundit Gary Neville has voiced his concerns over the proposal from the 'Big Six'

The former Manchester United defender tweeted it would be a 'huge mistake' to back it

The former Manchester United defender tweeted it would be a 'huge mistake' to back it

Premier League executive chairman Richard Scudamore put the idea to those at the meeting

Premier League executive chairman Richard Scudamore put the idea to those at the meeting

PREMIER LEAGUE MEETING Q&A 

Aren't these types of Premier League meetings fairly standard?

Yes, leading figures at top-flight sides routinely meet to discuss issues of the day but on the agenda for this one was how funds from international broadcast rights are distributed. And changes might be afoot.

The big six Premier League clubs want a greater share of the next multi-billion pound contract, which will run between 2019-22, prompting an inevitable divide of opinion.

What is Manchester United and Co's argument?

The richest six clubs – both Manchester teams, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham – say that the Premier League generates monumental finance mainly because of them, and not the other 14 top-flight sides.

The traditional elite want a larger slice of the pot from matches televised abroad than the current equitable share that has been in place for the past 25 years.

Those six argue the Premier League was able to raise £3billion for 2016–19 – £39m annually per club – because people in Tokyo or Tampa want to see the best, and not necessarily the rest. 

Presumably the others have something to say on the matter?

Yes, there is strong resistance to any changes from those you would imagine. Those clubs who customarily earmark survival as the campaign's ambition insist the top teams are already much richer through commercial deals and domestic prize pools, and further enhancement of bank balances would distort a playing field that is the most level of any quality European league.

They say fair competition – where those at the bottom can beat those higher up – is what makes the Premier League marketable. It is understood though that Everton, West Ham, and Leicester are open to a shift towards weighting payments depending on finishing position – a sign of their ultimate aspirations. 

Surely the Premier League want to continue as a united body?

Exactly, but it is not that straight-forward.

Premier League executive chairman Richard Scudamore – who has extracted increasingly eye-popping figures from both domestic and foreign TV markets – is proposing an alteration that would see 35 per cent of the revenue from abroad divided according to final placing.

However, any changes need to be passed by a two-thirds majority vote. 

So, with only nine clubs in favour, that is the end of it?

Again, not that simple. There are fears that the big six would revisit plans for a European super league should they not get their wishes on this matter.

Perhaps more realistically they would push again for more live matches or staging games abroad.

Scudamore is understandably keen to navigate negotiations towards a compromise that would satisfy all members and keep the Premier League in tact, hence his proposal.

Laurie Whitwell 

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