PREMIER LEAGUE CLUBS PUSHING FOR TAX CUTS

tHE Premier League and EFL are lobbying the Government for a Vat cut to help their clubs cope with the absence of fans during the pandemic.

there is a general acceptance in football that the Government will not provide any direct financial assistance beyond the emergency grants that have beenen given to the national League ague this week to ensure ure their season can n begin as planned d tomorrow.

But clubs at all levels feel that the treasury could help by passing on tax cuts that have been given to other industries.

Hotels, restaurants ts and other businesses ses in the hospitality sector have been paying a reduced Vat rate of five per cent since July, but this cut — which will remain in place until January — has not been passed on to sports clubs, despite the fact their biggest revenue stream has been shut down by the ban on crowds. as a result clubs are being forced to pay 20 per cent

Vat on the small sales they are making, such as memberships and match-passes for online streaming in the EFL. the needne for an emergency gencyemergency Vat cut was raiseraised by several clubs at the EFL’s divisional sidivisional meetings this wweek and Premier LLeague clubs are also pushing the issue. the Department for Digital, Culture Media and sport, wwho are leading for the Government in the ttalks over a wider bailoubailout for sport, are understoounderstood to be sympathetic and are liaising with the treasury on the matter. the Premier League held talks with the EFL yesterday over the terms of the financial rescue package that has been demanded by Government. no agreement was reached.