Manchester City's Amazon documentary to trigger backlash among Premier League rivals

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The row over Manchester City’s £10million Amazon Prime documentary series is set to escalate, with rival teams concerned it could affect their club TV content.

The Premier League reminded clubs this week that they must seek advance permission from rights-holders Sky and BT Sport to use their own cameras in the tunnel area, around the stadium and pitchside at live TV matches.

This follows the uproar that greeted City’s decision to push through their access-all-areas deal with Amazon Prime — who have already been filming in the Etihad dressing room, despite it being a restricted area for the PL’s domestic rights-holders, who between them paid £5.1billion for their contracts.

Manchester City have ruffled feathers by agreeing a fly-on-the-wall documentary with Amazon

Clubs must seek advance permission from Sky and BT Sport to use cameras in the tunnel area

City may upset rivals who will be furious if their own channels run into problems with coverage

Understandably, the pair want to reinforce their control on live match days in the wake of City’s unilateral decision. But clubs will be furious with City if their own channels now run into problems with coverage.

Meanwhile, it has been revealed that Chelsea turned down a fly-on-the-wall series approach from Amazon because it was not considered the right fit for the club.

It has emerged during the FIFA corruption trial in New York that almost all the major suspects in the Zurich gallery apparently liked their bribes paid through a complex route of offshore companies.

The exception was Julio Grondona, the late Argentinian football chief, who always demanded hard cash.

There was strong reaction on social media to FIFA’s confirmation of Sports Agenda’s story that Gary Lineker would be conducting the World Cup draw in Moscow on December 1.

The public and some of his BBC colleagues questioned how Lineker could take the FIFA shilling — believed to be an all-expenses-paid package of at least £10,000 — when the Match of the Day host has been such a serial critic of FIFA.

As first revealed by Sports Agenda, Gary Lineker will conduct the World Cup draw in Moscow

Lineker responded on Twitter, saying: ‘And still will be (critical) when necessary. I am hosting the draw for a World Cup that I’ve watched all my life, played in twice, won its Golden Boot and will present for BBC Sport for the sixth time next summer. I just wish I could play in it. Don’t make it political endorsement.’

A FIFA spokesman said: ‘The presenters, draw conductors and artists involved in the draw have been contracted in accordance with the relevant legal requirements and planned budget.’

Marco Silva has been told there is no chance of Watford releasing him to join Everton

Watford manager Marco Silva has been told there is no chance of the club releasing him to join Everton, nor is there any break clause in his contract. 

If Everton want him, they will have to wait until the end of the season or pay considerable compensation.

Chopper time for Jose

Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho, not averse to a portfolio of personal sponsorships, was at the Solihull headquarters of Jaguar this week to inspect his new F-Pace luxury car. 

However, he travelled back to his Lowry Hotel base in Manchester by helicopter.

Jose Mourinho was at the Solihull headquarters of Jaguar this week to inspect his new car

There are reservations among the RFU councillors — as they look forward to another full house at Twickenham against Australia today — that RFU chief executive Steve Brown’s stated desire for his organisation to be the strongest in British sport will be to the detriment of the grassroots game. 

And that the vast income that will be spent trying to achieve that aim would be better invested solving the problems at amateur level. 

The RFU say they always divide their money between the amateur and professional games according to a strict ratio.

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich has one of his many global properties within the borders of the club’s Cobham training ground. 

It is always ready for him to stay, being cleaned every day. But though Abramovich uses it for meetings, he has rarely, if ever, stayed overnight. 

Roman Abramovich has one of his many global properties within the Chelsea training ground