FabSwingers.com forum: Premier League Rights

By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

The auction process is about to start again with a bidding war between BT and Sky expected to drive a 60% increase in the UK rights and foreign rights also likely to increase significantly. This will lead to further inflated wage rises and increased transfer fees for foreign players.

As a thought, how about a tax on the Premier League itself before the cash reaches the clubs. Set at say 20-30% with the cash used to support grass roots sport and help pay for improvements in facilities, coaching and equipment. Benefits would be more kids playing, improved health, reduced social issues for teens by keeping them engaged in competitive sport and maybe bringing through a generation of high quality young domestic players.

Might mean Wayne Rooney and others might have survive on £200k a week (all paid I'm sure in a way in which he pays as little or no tax!) rather than the current £300k.

What do you fellow Fabsters think?

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

And small clubs like Salisbury and Hereford will go bust owing under £100k .. It's a genuine crying shame

By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"And small clubs like Salisbury and Hereford will go bust owing under £100k .. It's a genuine crying shame"

It is sad to see what the money has done to the game at all levels. With so much being in the hands of so few the game has suffered.

By (user no longer on site)
over a year ago

A lot of excellent work is being done at clubs up and down the country, through their community trusts and foundations. It gets little recognition, yet thousands and thousands of people of all ages benefit. Some of the funding comes from the Premier League, it is true, but a huge amount has to be found from other sources. A tax on the PL specifically to fund more of this type of activity as o rights would be a good thing.

By (user no longer on site) OP
over a year ago

"A lot of excellent work is being done at clubs up and down the country, through their community trusts and foundations. It gets little recognition, yet thousands and thousands of people of all ages benefit. Some of the funding comes from the Premier League, it is true, but a huge amount has to be found from other sources. A tax on the PL specifically to fund more of this type of activity as o rights would be a good thing."

I think I might write to my MP and to the Secretary of State for Sport and Culture!