The Premier League faced harsh criticism after their Monday meeting of 20 member clubs.
The Premier League has been dubbed a “complete disgrace” by Manchester United legend Gary Neville after they were unable to reach a consensus on a funding agreement that will assist English football clubs.
The 20 top-tier clubs got together on Monday to talk about an agreement that would see about £925 million trickle down to teams in the EFL and other leagues. Nevertheless, the Premier League gave talks about changes to their own profit and sustainability guidelines and financial regulations priority, so no decision was made in full.
As expected, the decision sparked criticism from all across the EFL, with teams like West Brom and Birmingham City left in suspense, waiting to hear what kind of support they might receive from the top flight. Co-owner of Salford City in League Two, Neville acknowledged that he was displeased with Premier League clubs that prioritised “looking after themselves” over the “welfare of the game.”
He said to Sky Sport: “I am more interested in the vote they did not receive, which was to support the Football League as a whole, which they keep shoving aside and which is a complete embarrassment. It concerns both the long-term viability of the league as a whole and the welfare of the game. Currently, the Premier League is being careless in their dismissive behaviour, simply putting it off and hoping that a regulator would take care of it eventually. In the meantime, they are doing nothing. That, in my opinion, shows that they are not properly overseeing the entire game, which is not good governance. Every time I see that they are holding a Premier League meeting and appear to be self-care but neglect the welfare of the entire football team.
After Everton and Nottingham Forest received charges in recent months, Premier League clubs are looking to change their profit and sustainability regulations to align with UEFA’s Financial Fair Play model, instead of voting to support the football pyramid.
“At a Premier League shareholders’ meeting today, clubs agreed to prioritise the swift development and implementation of a new league-wide financial system,” a Premier League spokesperson said on Monday. This will give clubs financial stability for the future and guarantee that the Premier League can continue to make the largest investment in the game at all levels.
Premier League clubs also reaffirmed their commitment to obtaining a financially sustainable agreement with the EFL in conjunction with this, provided that clubs formally approve the new financial system. Along with reaffirming their long-standing and continuous dedication to the game, the league and clubs also announced that £1.6 billion will be given to football at all levels during the current three-year cycle. The major financial contributions from the Premier League go towards supporting women’s and girls’ football, the grassroots of the sport, and all EFL and National League clubs.
