The mega-wealthy ‘Big Six’ Premier League clubs who secretly plotted the European Super League pay a ‘goodwill gesture’ of just £22m in total – and agree to cough up £25m each and lose 30 points if they try it again
- The Premier League’s breakaway Big Six are paying a total of £22million between them as a ‘goodwill gesture’
- A deal was agreed this morning to punish the clubs after the Super League failed
- The amount is to be put towards grassroots and fan and community initiatives
- Any attempts to breakaway again will see a £20m fine and 30-point deduction
The Premier League will receive a ‘goodwill gesture’ from the breakaway Big Six of around £22m – with any further attempts subject to a 30-point deduction.
Sportsmail understands that a deal which swerves the need for a disciplinary process was agreed on Wednesday morning.
As expected, each club will not be handed a deduction now and the money they hand over is understood to be earmarked for grassroots, fan and community initiatives rather than for the other 14 clubs.
Manchester City and Chelsea are two of the clubs hit with fines for being in the Super League
Manchester United and Liverpool were both also heavily involved in the Super League’s launch
Further attempts to join another league will result in a £25m fine for the offending club and a 30-point deduction.
A statement released by the Premier League and The Football Association says: ‘The six clubs involved in proposals to form a European Super League have today acknowledged once again that their actions were a mistake, and have reconfirmed their commitment to the Premier League and the future of the English game.
‘They have wholeheartedly apologised to their fans, fellow clubs, the Premier League and The FA.
‘As a gesture of goodwill, the clubs have collectively agreed to make a contribution of £22million, which will go towards the good of the game, including new investment in support for fans, grassroots football and community programmes.
The failed breakaway had led to supporters of the Big Six clubs taking to the streets to protest
‘Furthermore, the clubs have agreed to support rule changes so that any similar actions in the future would lead to a 30-point deduction.
‘Each of the six clubs, in that event, would also be subject to an additional £25m fine.
‘The Premier League and The FA have worked closely together throughout this process and this agreement brings both investigations into the matter to a conclusion.’
However, the current penalty may well be seen by some as a victory for the six – both Manchester clubs, Chelsea, Arsenal, Liverpool and Tottenham.
Some of the other 14 clubs had called for immediate deductions. Talks, which at times had become strained, had been ongoing for some time.
One of the major sticking points was over where the fines would go.
Chelsea and owner Roman Abramovich pulled out of the tournament amid widespread anger
The six did not want their punishments to line the pockets of their rivals with a view that they would have jumped at the European Super League should they have been invited.
The deal comes on the eve of the Premier League’s AGM in Harrogate.
There was a desire to get it over the line before tonight’s traditional dinner, at which Big Six executives are often split and seated with their counterparts from the other 14.
Sportsmail reported last night that the six clubs wanted a penalty similar to that meted out by UEFA last month.
They were each fined £1.5m, and the money will go to children’s and grassroots football across Europe.
City, who are owned by Sheik Mansour bin Zayed Al Nahyan (middle), had also dropped out
The clubs also agreed to have five per cent of the revenue they would have banked from UEFA club competitions for one season withheld.
For the Premier League’s punishment, all six teams were keen on a similar situation, with the amount of money being put towards good causes, rather than their rivals.
It appeared at one moment this week that talks may collapse, but the breakthrough was eventually reached on Tuesday.
As a result of the Super League’s collapse, the Premier League introduced measures to prevent a repeat in the future through an owners’ charter.
The owners of all 20 top-flight clubs will be required to sign up to the charter, which enforces the principles of the competition.