Radrizzani misses the full picture

LEEDS UNITED owner Andrea Radrizzani is a man with big ideas and a penchant for publicity.

Since first buying into Leeds in January last year, the controversial Italian businessman (above) hasn’t been slow in coming forward.

Moaning about clubs with more money than Leeds has become his stock in trade since last term’s outburst against Wolves’ links with superagent Jorge Mendes.

But his outspoken antics are increasingly ruffling the feathers of English football’s establishment.

Radrizzani stuck two fingers up to the FA last month when his Eleven Sports TV service streamed two live La Liga matches during the UK’S Saturday blackout window between 2.45pm and 5.15pm.

Now, he has thrown down the gauntlet by threatening to also show Serie A games on Saturday afternoons.

The FA are fighting back and are now in talks with UEFA.

His latest call for the formation of a breakaway Premier League 2 to provide more revenue for Championship clubs undoubtedly has backers in England’s second tier. Derby owner Mel Morris (below), for example, has shared Radrizzani’s claims that the current Sky Sports broadcast deal with the EFL underpays Championship clubs.

And, as far back as 2009, the late Phil Gartside, chairman of Bolton Wanderers, proposed a Premier League consisting of two divisions of 18 clubs each.

Radrizzani thinks it unfair that Leeds received only £7million from their frequent TV appearances last year when the bottom Premier League club was guaranteed £100m.

And he is also critical of parachute payments that he claims provide relegated clubs with an in-built advantage in the Championship.

There is a strong case to be made for a more equitable distribution of the TV cash to the 72 EFL clubs.

But not the way Radrizzani proposes.

He conveniently skirts the fact Leeds are part of a collective EFL agreement and ignores the fate that would befall clubs lower down the league ladder.

It’s time for the TV rebel to look at the bigger picture!