November 5 – British parliamentarians have asked to quiz the orchestrators of Project Big Picture, the controversial plan that would have handed power to the big six Premier League clubs in return for a £250 million Covid-19 bailout for lower-league clubs, but which never got off the ground.
The proposal, which would have seen the Premier League reduced in size from 20 to 18 clubs, was denounced as “a backroom deal” and FA boss Greg Clarke, Premier League chief executive Richard Masters and English Football League chairman Rick Parry have been called before a parliamentary committee “in an attempt to break the deadlock” over some kind of financial rescue package.
The trio will face questions the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) Committee next week on the lack of an agreement over a bailout for cash-strapped EFL clubs amid Covid-19.
“Many of our football clubs are already facing a precarious future yet they are being put at further risk because the football authorities who should be showing real leadership have reached a place of stalemate,” said DCMS Committee chair Julian Knight.
“The government has made it clear that it won’t step in. A deal must be reached before it’s too late, the loss of any club will leave a gaping hole in its community.
“We’re calling in football chiefs next week to put their case in public in an attempt to break the deadlock between the Premier League and EFL, it cannot go on.”
“Covid has exposed many of the fissures in our society and this is one of the deepest and football has been exposed, frankly, as having the economics of the madhouse in many respects. Football has not covered itself in glory over the last few months when it comes to the top of the game and its administration and Project Big Picture sort of encapsulated that.”
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