Championship clubs weigh up legal action if promotion is off agenda
TOP Championship clubs are reportedly preparing to launch a legal battle if a radical new proposal prevents them achieving promotion to the Premier League.
With the UK on ‘lockdown’ and no matches scheduled to be played until at least April 30, football’s top brass are currently locked in talks over how best to finish the season.
And, according to the Daily Mail, ambitions plans are afoot to resume in the first week of May, with the latest radical plan being discussed to complete the season for the sole purpose of TV rights, without any promotion to or relegation from the Premier League.
The basis for the proposal is that
Premier League chiefs believe the integrity of the competition will be threatened.
It is reported that top Championship clubs have already begun preparations to take legal action if such a plan is implemented and they are denied promotion.
It is thought, however, their cases will be weakened if the Championship season is not completed.
Should the likes of Leeds United and West Brom, currently in first and second position in the table, not be granted promotion to the Premier League, it is believed they will miss out on more than £100million.
The Mail had earlier reported that, should the season be voided entirely, clubs such as Cardiff City, just two points off the play-offs, and Swansea City, just three points adrift of the top six, would have grounds to challenge due to a ‘loss of opportunity’ if their hopes of getting promoted are dashed.
It is claimed that clubs all the way through the English Football League are determined to be compensated if the campaign isn’t completed in its entirety, too.
One source at a Championship club in the running for promotion told the Mail: “Why should we miss out on the opportunity of promotion and the money that comes with it when the clubs at the bottom of Premier League get away Scott free if the season is null and voided?”
Pundit and talkSPORT host Ally McCoist hit out at the Premier League for appearing to ignore the Championship and the rest of the EFL in the latest proposed plans to finish the season. The mooted plan centred around the top flight resuming at the start of May, behind closed doors, and finishing on July 12, without any promotion to or relegation.
The proposal also contained no guarantee the Championship season would be finished and former Scotland and Rangers striker McCoist blasted the lack of unity between the Premier League and the rest of the divisions, believing there should be solidarity in these uncertain times.
“We’re making rules for some and not for others,” he said on talkSPORT.
“Football used to be the same for everyone and now it’s not.
“It’s saying that it’s more important financially for the Premier League to finish above other leagues. I think it’s wrong.”
Meanwhile, Premier League football will be shown to the nation on free-to-air TV if the season is forced to go behind closed doors once it is given the green light to resume, according to a report by the Mirror.
The season is currently on hold until April 30, at the very earliest, due to the coronavirus pandemic, though that date is highly likely to be pushed back due to the severity of the virus in the UK.
Football.london exclusively reported recently that the Premier League season is set to resume in July and see the remaining matches of the season played over a four to six week period behind closed doors.
While a radical, more ambitious plan, reported by the Mail, is targeting a return as early as May.
In England, of course, only Sky Sports and BT Sport have the rights to broadcast Premier League football live, but it is claimed the two broadcasting powerhouses will share the live rights for the fixtures that remain this season.
However, TV bosses accept that it may not be possible to show every single game, though Premier League chiefs believe the ability to show every game live on TV would stop the possibility of supporters turning up at stadia, which would spark concerns for their own safety and security.
This means some fixtures could be shown live on free-to-air TV, while Sky Sports and BT Sport would get the opportunity to broadcast some of the bigger matches.
BT and Sky Sports have already held talks about holding extra matches going ‘behind the red button,’ too.
No final decision has yet been made on this avenue being explored but Premier League bosses are eager for it to happen, as are the TV companies.
Talks are ongoing between the TV companies and the Premier League, as the Premier League are determined to get the season concluded to safeguard the broadcast deal and avoid having to pay back £750million in TV cash if they cannot complete the season.
Over the Christmas and New Year period this season, Amazon bought rights to show two rounds of fixtures, with the Boxing Day matches being played simultaneously, which led to their subscription figures being boosted.
It remains to be seen whether Sky and BT would be open to that idea again for rival TV companies.
The Premier League will host a stakeholders meeting this coming Friday and the prospect of games being broadcast behind closed doors, should that need occur, may be up for discussion.