PARLIAMENTARY EARLY DAY MOTION
EUROPEAN COMMISSION AND THE FUTURE OF ENGLISH FOOTBALL (25 February 2003)

That this House notes with concern the Statement of Objection to the FA Premier League television contract issued by the European Commission; believes ending the collective selling of TV rights by clubs would benefit a wealthy few but have damaging consequences for the rest; recalls how a British court ruled in 1999 that sporting cartels could be justified if they brought other benefits in the wider public interest, such as maintaining competitive balance and wealth redistribution; congratulates the Premier League for honouring a pledge given in advance of that court case to redistribute five per cent. of future collective deals to football's grassroots; believes, however, that this has proved insufficient to maintain a healthy football structure in England and sees clubs in financial crisis when there is more money in the game than ever before; recalls how, prior to the creation of the Premier League, the old First Division redistributed 50 per cent. of income to the game beneath it; and calls on the EC to permit collective selling in return for a commitment to greater redistribution of the proceeds, of at least 10 per cent., to help the whole of English football recover its health.

Sponsored by:
Andy Burnham (Labour)