Mini Series, Big Sell?
As Fifa President Sepp Blatter vows to block the Premier League proposals for international settings for Premiership matches, it’s back to drawing board for the Premier League bigwigs.
But before they hatch their next money-spinner, Formula One chief and Queen’s Park Rangers owner, Bernie Ecclestone could nip in with an idea of his own.
Rubbishing the Premier League design of an additional fixture to the 38-game season on the basis of an expected lack of interest outside of the world-renowned clubs, Ecclestone has suggested running a mini tournament that would not be counted towards the Premiership. The ’six match series’ would see matches between the Big Four played on a global scene.
Ecclestone said, ” I don’t see how you could promote Man United playing Wigan. Nothing wrong with Wigan but if you went to a lot of places in the world, they’d think Wigan was another country actually.”
Segregation
He continued by saying, “I’d run it completely separately and export it to whoever wanted to buy it. Nothing to do with anything. Not sharing the money with any of the rest of the league or anything like that.”
One aspect of the Premier League proposal was it was inclusive of everyone. All 20 Premiership teams would be set to receive £5m and an equal share of the TV rights so could be considered a nice little bonus spending money for those teams lower down the division.
But isn’t Ecclestone’s proposal just a way to make the rich teams richer and therefore widening the already mammoth gap? Look at the ground billionaire-less Everton have made. Throw in this moneymaker for Man U, Arsenal, Chelsea and, arguably Liverpool and it could spell another 3 steps back for Moyes and co.
OOH the excitement!
Yes, on paper a Man U v Arsenal and Chelsea v Liverpool Grand Slam weekend is salivating; on the pitch, it’s usually a bit on the stale side. Liverpool’s trip to Stamford Bridge last Sunday produced just two shots on target the whole game.
Or cast your mind back to last season’s FA Cup final between Chelsea and Man U. What more of a setting do you want - the first FA Cup final to be played at the new, razzle-dazzle Wembley, the two Premier League giants of 2006/7. And did the game fit the occasion? No it didn’t; the first and only goal taking 116 painstaking minutes to come. And these ties are set to satisfy the international crowds? Good luck with that.
Tags: Arsenal, Bernie Ecclestone, Chelsea, David Moyes, International Premiership matches, Liverpool, Man Utd, Premier League, QPR, Wigan Athletic
