adminLONDON. — The English Premier League is “a success story” but not a charity, its chief executive Richard Scudamore has said over criticism on a record £5.14bn TV deal. Leading politicians have called for more money from the sale of domestic TV rights to be put into grassroots football and reducing ticket prices. But Scudamore said: “We’re not set up for charitable purposes.
“We are set up to be the best football competition.”
Sky and BT Sport’s 2016-19 deal is a 70 percent rise on the current £3bn contract.
Labour’s shadow sports minister Clive Efford told BBC Radio 5 live it would be “nothing short of criminal” if the extra money from the three-season packages was not invested into grassroots.
Sports minister Helen Grant also described the Premier League as “a great British success story” but said the TV deal should bring “increased benefits to clubs lower down the football pyramid” and called for further investment in facilities and supporters “who are the bedrock of the clubs they follow”. — BBC Sport.
Online Reporter