LONDON: English soccer’s Premier League put a fraction of its riches into a scheme to support youth sport yesterday, seeking to underline a commitment to local communities its clubs are accused of taking for granted. Flush with cash from a £5bn pound ($7.6bn) television windfall, English clubs face pressure to cut ticket prices and familiar questions about their failure to produce gifted young players for the national team.
But Chief Executive Richard Scudamore defended the 20-club League against accusations it was not doing enough to support teams lower down the soccer pyramid and grassroots sport.
As part of efforts to stay in touch with local communities, the Premier League has teamed up with government-backed Sport England in a £17m scheme to encourage young people to take up a variety of sports.
Scudamore bridled at suggestions that such funding was small change for the Premier League where players can earn up to £200,000 a week.
“There is no other company in this country that gives away more than we give away,” he told reporters at a London school.
“We will give away next year more than 260 million pounds. We will give away 50 million just in raw charitable causes,” he added, surrounded by teenagers showing off their soccer, table tennis and basketball skills. The larger figure includes money distributed to other parts of the professional game, including “parachute payments” to clubs to cushion the financial impact of relegation.
The Premier League is one of Britain’s most successful exports, with overseas TV rights for the next three seasons worth an estimated £2bn ($3bn) and top clubs like champions Manchester United able to sign sponsorship deals in dozens of foreign markets.
United and title rivals Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal are about to embark on long-haul overseas tours to tune up for the new season and help build their international following.
REUTERS
