The Premier League have now confirmed our Saudi takeover suspicions - Corrupt to the core
Newcastle fans could feel slightly vindicated today after being jeered at by rival fans in recent times for our relentless #ThePremierLeagueIsCorrupt campaign.
When the proposed Saudi-backed takeover broke down in July, one of the most damning accusations levied at the top flight is that they flutter a favourable glow towards the top six sides - with most Toon supporters believing Mike Ashley would no longer be our owner had we been Liverpool or Man Utd.
Amanda Staveley even called out the Premier League champions, alongside Spurs, telling The Athletic that they were the two most vocal opponents of little old Newcastle becoming the latest shark to enter the fish tank. Richard Masters himself has since denied that they had any influence.
The Telegraph’s exclusive yesterday confirms our suspicions have some substance after all. Leaked proposals would see the league cut to 18 teams, with the “big six” holding omnipotent power to cast votes influencing the direction of the league for eternity.
Three additional clubs, rumoured to be whichever three sides have been in the league the longest at the time, would also have a vote. But, let’s be honest, their ability to have any sort of voice will be nullified and they will simply be no more than a patsy - temporary tenants in the big boys’ house who have no choice but to play ball.
In a desperate attempt to woo public opinion in their favour, it is believed that 25% of the Premier League money would be filtered down to the EFL, increasing the revenue of those 72 (74 once the league is cut) clubs in times of financial uncertainty.
The remaining clubs (again, nine once the reform takes place) in the league that no longer have a voice will be well and truly shafted - as will the average supporter. English football’s beauty is our competitiveness. We possess the oldest and greatest pyramid in the world and that would become under threat under these new proposals. The top flight would become a runaway, capitalist cabal that nobody else can dare enter and the sport will become increasingly distant from the working-class roots that it originated from.
News of these plans serve as a brutal double-whammy for fans across the country, who found out on Friday that every top flight club apart from Leicester voted to show games on PPV to help subsidise them during the pandemic.
Forgive me for lacking compassion, but Premier League sides spent £1.2billion in the transfer window and are now, alongside their shallow-hearted broadcasters Sky and BT, asking supporters to cough up £14.95 per match on top of the astronomical figures they already pay to watch the games.
This past weekend has shown the absolute apex of the game’s ugly, dark side. There are so many areas of the sport that need urgent reform, but restructuring the country’s elite league to favour the big clubs, or increasing the ever-growing emptiness of football supporter’s pockets - should not be considered.
Us Newcastle fans are beginning to look like we were right all along - #ThePremierLeagueIsCorrupt.
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