Premier League’s ‘New Deal for football’ has more holes in it than a slice of Swiss cheese

“These proposals show a complete lack of respect for hard-working community clubs that are the heart and soul of towns and cities across the country”

Niall Couper, CEO of Fair Game

FAIR Game responded to the Premier League’s proposed ‘New Deal for football’ with a healthy dose of scepticism. The proposals outlined at a Premier League shareholder meeting earlier today (Tuesday 26 September) include imposing a merit-based financial system on the EFL, introducing new cost controls and controversially insisting on Championship clubs fielding a fixed number of under-23 players on-loan from Premier League clubs.

Niall Couper, CEO of Fair Game, said: “These proposals have more holes in them than a slice of Swiss Cheese.

“This so-called ‘New Deal for Football’ is deeply flawed. It shows a complete lack of respect for the hard-working community clubs that are the heart and soul of so many towns throughout the country. The football pyramid is not the Premier League’s play thing.

“To insist upon under-23s playing in the EFL undermines the sporting integrity of the pyramid.

“A merit-based system does nothing to tackle the gambling culture that led to the problems that have inflicted clubs like Derby, Macclesfield, Bolton and Bury in recent years.

“We need an independent regulator to assess whether this ‘New Deal’ is in the best interest of the national game or solely fitting the needs of a closed group of billionaires.

“It is time for an independent regulator to take control of football’s financial flow and protect the nation’s football ecosystem. It is time for a culture that rewards well-run clubs and secures club’s security for generations to come.”