"
data-check-event-based-preview=""
data-is-vertical-video-embed="false"
data-network-id=""
data-publish-date="2020-09-30T08:41:17Z"
data-video-section="sport"
data-canonical-url="https://www.cnn.com/videos/sports/2020/09/29/jurgen-klopp-impact-liverpool-jamie-carragher-premier-league-champions-league-spt-intl.cnn"
data-branding-key="football"
data-video-slug="jurgen klopp impact liverpool jamie carragher premier league champions league spt intl"
data-first-publish-slug="jurgen klopp impact liverpool jamie carragher premier league champions league spt intl"
data-video-tags="continents and regions,england,europe,football (soccer),jurgen klopp,liverpool,liverpool fc,northern europe,premier league,sports and recreation,sports figures,sports organizations and teams,united kingdom"
data-details="">
"
data-check-event-based-preview=""
data-is-vertical-video-embed="false"
data-network-id=""
data-publish-date="2020-09-30T08:41:17Z"
data-video-section="sport"
data-canonical-url="https://www.cnn.com/videos/sports/2020/09/29/jurgen-klopp-impact-liverpool-jamie-carragher-premier-league-champions-league-spt-intl.cnn"
data-branding-key="football"
data-video-slug="jurgen klopp impact liverpool jamie carragher premier league champions league spt intl"
data-first-publish-slug="jurgen klopp impact liverpool jamie carragher premier league champions league spt intl"
data-video-tags="continents and regions,england,europe,football (soccer),jurgen klopp,liverpool,liverpool fc,northern europe,premier league,sports and recreation,sports figures,sports organizations and teams,united kingdom"
data-details="">
"
data-check-event-based-preview=""
data-is-vertical-video-embed="false"
data-network-id=""
data-publish-date="2023-04-25T22:38:03Z"
data-video-section="sport"
data-canonical-url="https://www.cnn.com/videos/sports/2023/04/25/exp-bex-smith-intv-0425p.cnn"
data-branding-key=""
data-video-slug="exp Bex Smith INTV 0425P"
data-first-publish-slug="exp Bex Smith INTV 0425P"
data-video-tags="2022 fifa world cup,brand safety-nsf health issues,brand safety-nsf sensitive,demographic groups,diseases and disorders,domestic alerts,domestic-health and science,experimentation and research,females (demographic group),fifa,fifa world cup,football (soccer),health and medical,iab-bone and joint conditions,iab-diseases and conditions,iab-injuries,iab-medical health,iab-science,iab-soccer,iab-sports,international alerts,international-health and science,knee disorders and injuries,labor and employment,musculoskeletal disorders and injuries,population and demographics,science,soccer events,society,sports and recreation,sports events,sports organizations and teams,women workers and professionals,workers and professionals,wounds and injuries"
data-details="">
Video Ad Feedback
Why have there been so many knee injuries to top women footballers?
"
data-check-event-based-preview=""
data-is-vertical-video-embed="false"
data-network-id=""
data-publish-date="2023-03-11T09:46:31Z"
data-video-section="sport"
data-canonical-url="https://www.cnn.com/videos/sports/2023/03/09/womens-world-cup-equal-pay-treatment-spt-intl.cnn"
data-branding-key="football"
data-video-slug="womens world cup equal pay treatment spt intl"
data-first-publish-slug="womens world cup equal pay treatment spt intl"
data-video-tags="australia,brand safety-nsf discrimination,brand safety-nsf sensitive,compensation and benefits,continents and regions,demographic groups,discrimination,domestic alerts,domestic-international news,employment discrimination,females (demographic group),fifa,fifa women's world cup,football (soccer),gender pay gap,iab-soccer,iab-sports,labor and employment,new zealand,oceania,pay gap,population and demographics,sex and gender,sex discrimination,soccer events,societal issues,society,sports and recreation,sports events,sports organizations and teams,unrest, conflicts and war,wages and salaries"
data-details="">
Video Ad Feedback
Women's soccer: Where it's at, where it's been and where will it go from here?
"
data-check-event-based-preview=""
data-is-vertical-video-embed="false"
data-network-id=""
data-publish-date="2023-03-10T11:00:17Z"
data-video-section="sport"
data-canonical-url="https://www.cnn.com/videos/sports/2023/03/10/brentford-moneyball-premier-league-spt-intl.cnn"
data-branding-key="football"
data-video-slug="brentford moneyball premier league spt intl"
data-first-publish-slug="brentford moneyball premier league spt intl"
data-video-tags="business, economy and trade,company activities and management,continents and regions,domestic alerts,domestic-business,domestic-international news,england,europe,humanities and social sciences,iab-business,iab-business and finance,iab-business operations,international alerts,international-business,london,northern europe,philosophy,product development,product innovation,product management,united kingdom"
data-details="">
Video Ad Feedback
Brentford's 'moneyball' philosophy bests teams with bigger budgets
"
data-check-event-based-preview=""
data-is-vertical-video-embed="false"
data-network-id=""
data-publish-date="2023-03-06T08:31:44Z"
data-video-section="sport"
data-canonical-url="https://www.cnn.com/videos/sports/2023/03/02/penalty-kicks-emiliano-martinez-argentina-world-cup-spt-intl.cnn"
data-branding-key="football"
data-video-slug="penalty kicks emiliano martinez argentina world cup spt intl"
data-first-publish-slug="penalty kicks emiliano martinez argentina world cup spt intl"
data-video-tags="2022 fifa world cup,argentina,continents and regions,europe,fifa,fifa world cup,football (soccer),france,iab-soccer,iab-sports,latin america,soccer events,south america,sports and recreation,sports events,sports organizations and teams,the americas,western europe"
data-details="">
Video Ad Feedback
Emiliano Martínez: The art of winning a penalty shootout
"
data-check-event-based-preview=""
data-is-vertical-video-embed="false"
data-network-id=""
data-publish-date="2023-02-15T09:19:20Z"
data-video-section="sport"
data-canonical-url="https://www.cnn.com/videos/sports/2023/02/14/sebastien-haller-borussia-dortmund-cancer-recovery-spt-intl.cnn"
data-branding-key="football"
data-video-slug="sebastien haller borussia dortmund cancer recovery spt intl"
data-first-publish-slug="sebastien haller borussia dortmund cancer recovery spt intl"
data-video-tags="borussia dortmund,brand safety-nsf health issues,brand safety-nsf sensitive,bundesliga,cancer,chemotherapy and radiation treatments,continents and regions,diseases and disorders,domestic alerts,domestic-health and science,domestic-international news,europe,football (soccer),germany,health and health care (by demographic group),health and medical,iab-cancer,iab-diseases and conditions,iab-healthy living,iab-medical health,iab-men's health,iab-soccer,iab-sports,international alerts,international-health and science,medical fields and specialties,medical treatments and procedures,men's health,oncology,soccer events,sports and recreation,sports events,sports organizations and teams,testicular cancer,uefa champions league,urogenital disorders and injuries,western europe"
data-details="">
Video Ad Feedback
Sébastien Haller: Borussia Dortmund star reflects on fairytale comeback from testicular cancer diagnosis
"
data-check-event-based-preview=""
data-is-vertical-video-embed="false"
data-network-id=""
data-publish-date="2023-02-23T16:04:39Z"
data-video-section="sport"
data-canonical-url="https://www.cnn.com/videos/sports/2023/02/23/xherdan-shaqiri-chicago-fire-switzerland-football-spt-intl.cnn"
data-branding-key="football"
data-video-slug="xherdan shaqiri chicago fire switzerland football spt intl"
data-first-publish-slug="xherdan shaqiri chicago fire switzerland football spt intl"
data-video-tags="2022 fifa world cup,bundesliga,chicago fire,cnn,companies,continents and regions,england,europe,fc bayern munich,fifa,fifa world cup,football (soccer),germany,iab-soccer,iab-sports,liverpool,mls,mls eastern conference,northern europe,soccer events,sports and recreation,sports events,sports figures,sports organizations and teams,switzerland,uefa champions league,united kingdom,warnermedia,western europe,xherdan shaqiri"
data-details="">
Video Ad Feedback
Xherdan Shaqiri talks to CNN about the Chicago Fire and Switzerland
"
data-check-event-based-preview=""
data-is-vertical-video-embed="false"
data-network-id=""
data-publish-date="2023-01-27T15:48:48Z"
data-video-section="sport"
data-canonical-url="https://www.cnn.com/videos/sports/2023/01/27/rob-mcelhenney-wrexham-fa-cup-football-spt-intl.cnn"
data-branding-key="football"
data-video-slug="rob mcelhenney wrexham fa cup football spt intl"
data-first-publish-slug="rob mcelhenney wrexham fa cup football spt intl"
data-video-tags="american football conference,fa cup,football (soccer),iab-soccer,iab-sports,nfl,soccer events,sports and recreation,sports events,sports organizations and teams"
data-details="">
Video Ad Feedback
Wrexham AFC owner Rob McElhenney on team's FA Cup run
"
data-check-event-based-preview=""
data-is-vertical-video-embed="false"
data-network-id=""
data-publish-date="2023-01-19T13:55:25Z"
data-video-section="sport"
data-canonical-url="https://www.cnn.com/videos/sports/2023/01/19/manchester-united-davos-shop-front-spt-intl.cnn"
data-branding-key="football"
data-video-slug="manchester united davos shop front spt intl"
data-first-publish-slug="manchester united davos shop front spt intl"
data-video-tags="alps,business, economy and trade,conferences and conventions,domestic alerts,domestic-business,economy and economic indicators,football (soccer),iab-business and finance,iab-business expos & conferences,iab-economy,iab-events,iab-soccer,iab-sports,international alerts,international-business,leisure and lifestyle,luxurious living,manchester united fc,mountains (by name),physical locations,premier league,sports and recreation,sports organizations and teams,world economic forum"
data-details="">
Video Ad Feedback
Manchester United sets up shop at Davos with luxury lounge in Swiss Alps
Buffeted by a global pandemic, the future of the English Premier League – whose 20 clubs in 2018/19 delivered total revenue of over $6.5 billion for the first time in his history – appears to be up for grabs.
With no fans currently allowed at games, the 92 professional clubs that comprise English football have been grappling with the pandemic’s financial impact, particularly the 72 teams that play across three divisions in the English Football League (EFL) outside the Premier League.
According to Deloitte, Premier League clubs alone face a £1 billion ($1.3 billion) reduction in their revenues in 2019-20 because of the coronavirus pandemic.
It’s against the background of the pandemic and also a vacuum of power that’s seen the Premier League, the EFL and the Football Association, which regulates English football, unable to come up with a comprehensive solution over the last few months to help clubs weather the financial storm that ‘Project Big Picture’ has come into vision.
Reportedly backed by Liverpool and Manchester United – two clubs that have American owners – and EFL chairman Rick Parry, ‘Project Big Picture’ would see the top division of English football cut from 20 to 18 teams and the League Cup and Community Shield would be abolished.
In return, the EFL would get 25% of all future TV deals, plus a £250 million rescue fund made immediately available to the EFL to help clubs manage during the coronavirus pandemic. Liverpool and Manchester United did not respond to CNN’s request for comment.
The Premier League, which oversees English top-flight football, said it was “disappointed” by the proposals put forward by the EFL in ‘Project Big Picture,’ arguing that some of them have a “damaging effect on the whole game.”
“English football is the world’s most watched, and has a vibrant, dynamic and competitive league structure that drives interest around the globe,” said a Premier League statement.
“To maintain this position, it is important that we all work together. Both the Premier League and The FA support a wide-ranging discussion on the future of the game, including its competition structures, calendar and overall financing particularly in light of the effects of Covid-19.
“Football has many stakeholders, therefore this work should be carried out through the proper channels enabling all clubs and stakeholders the opportunity to contribute.
“In the Premier League’s view, a number of the individual proposals in the plan published today could have a damaging impact on the whole game and we are disappointed to see that Rick Parry, Chair of the EFL, has given his on-the-record support.
“The Premier League has been working in good faith with its clubs and the EFL to seek a resolution to the requirement for Covid-19 rescue funding. This work will continue.”
A spokesperson for the Department for Culture, Media and Sport told CNN it was “surprised and disappointed” by the proposed changes.
“We are surprised and disappointed that at a time of crisis when we have urged the top tiers of professional football to come together and finalise a deal to help lower league clubs there appear to be backroom deals being cooked up that would create a closed shop at the very top of the game,” a DCMS spokesperson said.
“Sustainability, integrity and fair competition are absolutely paramount and anything that may undermine them is deeply troubling. Fans must be front of all our minds, and this shows why our fan led review of football governance will be so critical.”
A television cameraman follows the action during the English Premier League football match between West Ham United and Newcastle United.
MICHAEL REGAN/POOL/AFP via Getty Images
‘A flagrant, abusive and ruinous power grab’
As well as reducing the number of teams in England’s top flight, the bottom two teams in the Premier League would be relegated automatically, with the 16th-placed team joining the second-tier Championship playoffs, under the proposed new structure.
Parachute payments – money given to relegated teams – would be scrapped and £100 million would be paid to the FA to make up for lost revenue.
The nine longest serving clubs in the Premier League – which currently are Liverpool, Manchester City, Manchester United, Chelsea, Tottenham, Arsenal, Everton, Southampton and West Ham – would be afforded voting rights which would enable any six of them to pass and veto certain new rules.
According to Parry, the need for a “complete rethinking regarding the funding of English professional football” was apparent even before the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
“Now is the time to address both the long-term health of the game and the most challenging short- term crisis it has ever faced,” said Parry in a statement.
EFL chairman Parry is interviewed prior to the game
Aston Villa vs. Manchester City EFL Carabao Cup final.
Kieran McManus/BPI/Shutterstock
“Project Big Picture provides a new beginning which will revitalize the football pyramid at all levels. This new beginning will reinvigorate clubs in the lower leagues and the communities in which they are based.
“The whole of English football has been negatively impacted by this pandemic and the English football pyramid as a whole is only as healthy as those at its base. This is about building on what is good and making the most of what works well in order to benefit the game as a whole, while simultaneously tackling those issues which trouble all of us.”
However, the proposal’s apparent consolidation of power in the hands of a few clubs has drawn widespread criticism. Martin Samuel of the Daily Mail called the move a “flagrant, abusive and ruinous power grab.”
“They are promising all kinds of bungs and sweeteners to get their way, painting themselves as the saviors of the game, the friends of the little folk, but do not believe a single word of it,” wrote Samuel.
“This is about six clubs controlling the wealth and seizing the power, right down to deciding who gets into their competition. This is about closed shop protectionism that will end the Premier League as a vibrant competition. This is about getting your round in with another man’s money.”
Chief football writer for the Times, Henry Winter, called ‘Project Big Picture,’ “so wretchedly, nakedly cynical, so obviously greed dressed up as munificence, that it deserves the widespread contempt it has immediately garnered.”
However the Guardian’s David Conn argued the idea was worthy of further consideration.
“An offer, finally after a generation, to rejoin the top division with the three below and repair the vast, calamitous financial gap caused by the breakaway of the First Division from the Football League to form the Premier League in 1992,” wrote Conn.
The news of ‘Project Big Picture’ comes soon after the Premier League was widely criticized for announcing that games not selected for broadcast in October will be available to fans to watch for £14.95 ($19.47) on a pay-per-view basis.
In September, every Premier League game was available to watch in the UK, but now fans will have to pay additional fees to watch games not selected for television.
Premier League clubs voted 19-1 in favor of the move, which is seen as an “interim move” with fans still not allowed to attend games in person.
The change has drawn swathes of criticism from across football, with former Manchester United and England right back Gary Neville calling it a “really bad move” by the Premier League on Twitter.