FOOTIE WAR OVER BIG 6 ‘CASH GRAB’

Top clubs want rights bonus

THE Premier League’s “Big Six” are set for war with the 14 other clubs to get a bigger slice of a £1billion TV fortune.

Arsenal, Chelsea, Spurs, Liverpool and the two Manchester sides want 35% of the global TV rights cash to be split according to where a team finishes at the end of the season.

Currently, the money is shared equally but the larger clubs argue they bring in more viewers so deserve more.

A secret meeting was held in London earlier this week with representatives of the remaining 14 teams.

Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore said afterwards that Everton, Leicester and West Ham would join the big six.

A summit is due to take place next week on the issue.

If 14 teams agree to the rule change it could risk ripping the ® Premier League apart and restart talks for a European Super League. The meeting was organised by Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish, who opposes the rule change. He said: “Are we honestly saying people are only tuning in for Man United or Liverpool? It’s not factual, is it? If they are not careful, they will ruin it. “If anyone thinks making this league more uncompetitive is going to make it more appetising, they are mad.” Mr Scudamore’s 35% plan would have meant bottom-of-thetable Sunderland received £14m less than the £39m they got last season. The current UK Premier League TV rights arrangement, agreed in 2015, runs until 2019 and Scudamore wants the issue sorted before starting negotiations for a new deal. TALKS: Scudamore and Parish