The Premier League has been accused of acting like a 'bully' in its negotiations over additional funds for the football pyramid, according to Gary Neville. Discussions regarding a new television money agreement between the Premier League and the EFL have been stalled since March, with no immediate resumption in sight.
An independent football regulator is likely to be granted 'backstop' powers to resolve the dispute, as Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy announced on Monday that the legislation to establish the regulator would be introduced to Parliament 'within a matter of weeks'. The Premier League has pledged to invest £1.6bn in solidarity payments to the broader football community over the next three years, a commitment that will remain in place until a new agreement is reached.
However, Neville, who co-owns Salford City and is a former Manchester United defender, argues that the top flight should be doing more to ensure the sustainability of clubs outside the Premier League. 'I have no idea what they’re playing at – they look awful to me,' he said at the Labour party conference in Liverpool. 'They look selfish. They look greedy. Everything you wouldn’t want to be in life, everything your parents wouldn’t want you to be.'
Neville emphasized that he and other club owners are willing to accept conditions around the distribution of funds because they want a sustainable football ecosystem. 'We’re happy to accept conditions around the money coming down, because the reality is, we want a sustainable game. I’m an owner of a football club, I want my club to be sustainable.'
He further criticized the Premier League's approach, comparing it to a big brother who distributes scraps to younger siblings. 'I know exactly what they’re doing – if they had wanted to have done a deal, they would have done a deal. But their mindset is such of a bully, their mindset is that they can influence a regulator once a regulator is introduced and get a better deal potentially the other side of the regulator coming in.'
The Premier League declined to comment, but sources within the top flight have refuted Neville's accusations of bullying. The league continues to engage with the new government on the football regulator, maintaining its stance that light-touch, targeted, and proportionate legislation can be effective.
