Arsene Wenger warns that "the Man United and Liverpool project" threatens "the death of small clubs"
Former Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger has warned that "small clubs will die" if urgent measures are not taken to protect the future of the lower leagues, in the midst of a major split sparked by new proposals to restructure English football.
The plan proposed by Liverpool and Manchester United clubs, dubbed (Project Big Vision), sparked widespread controversy in the circles of the game, if some consider it an attempt by force to impose a change in the voting structure in the English Premier League, in favor of the "big six" clubs, along with Arsenal, Chelsea and Manchester. City and Tottenham.
But the plan also includes provision of 250 million pounds ($ 325 million) for English Football Association (EFL) clubs in a bailout package from the damage caused by the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic, in addition to 25 percent of net proceeds from contracts with Media in the future.
"If nothing happens, the smaller clubs will die," Wenger, director of global football development at FIFA, told Sky Sports, adding, "I don't think one go will solve the problem."
"The problem is much deeper than that. Of course, the money must be shared, and the income of the big clubs should be shared in a greater part with the smaller clubs," he added.
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson had previously criticized the proposed plan, expressing his great concern that it would bring about a radical change in English football, considering it "undermines confidence in football governance."
Johnson added, according to what his spokesperson said Monday, that "in relation to support for (EFL) clubs, we have obtained guarantees from the Premier League and (EFL) that they have no intention of allowing any club to go bankrupt due to Covid, and we realize that They have the means to prevent this from happening thanks to the existing mechanisms. "
For his part, West Ham, one of the three clubs (with Everton and Southampton) outside the "Big Six" who will be granted special status under the plans due to their long history in the league, said it "strongly opposes this."
Among the controversial proposals, the number of Premier League clubs will be reduced from 20 to 18, in addition to the cancellation of the League Cup and Community Shield competitions.
In addition, the club, which ranks 16th in the Premier League, will compete with the first division championship clubs, while the nine most sustainable clubs in the Premier League will be granted greater voting rights.
Wenger, who led Arsenal's coaching staff for 22 years between 1996 and 2018, stressed that "the traditions within the country cannot be completely ignored."
He added, "In general, the solution must come from the Union, the government and the English Premier League, to find a settlement to solve the problems that already existed before the emerging Corona virus."
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