Corbett tackles Tories for undermining football

The Deputy Leader of the Labour MEPs, Richard Corbett, has accused the Conservative Party of undermining the solidarity of British football, following a vote on the future of professional football in Europe in the European Parliament.

He said:  "British football clubs will have been dismayed to see a British MEP, Chris Heaton-Harris, championing the cause of Spanish clubs at the behest of a lobbyist representing Real Madrid."

This amendment deleted a key part of the Belet report which stated that the individual sale of broadcasting rights "threatens completely to destroy the competitive balance" of the game in Europe.

The Premier League and Football League have always sold their broadcast rights collectively, a situation which is not replicated in Spain, where the two biggest clubs (Real Madrid and Barcelona) sell their own television rights, leaving the smaller clubs to fight over a relatively small amount.

Richard continued: "The competitive balance in football is perilous enough as it is without the Conservatives supporting Real Madrid's cause over the interests of British clubs and the vast majority of other teams across the continent.

" This is not just a matter of competitive balance in the Spanish league - a recent television deal gives €1 billion each to Real Madrid and Barcelona and will give them an unfair advantage over British clubs.

 "Currently there are no plans for the individual sale of television rights in English football, but as the Belet report implied, should it occur it would be the final nail in the coffin of competitive balance in English football."

Richard also believes the Conservatives failed to fully understand the importance of the collective sale of television rights.

 He added: "The collective sale of television rights is not only vital for all professional clubs but the money generated by the likes of the Premier League is filtered down to grassroots football, ensuring a bright future for the game. The Tories seem more interested in creating a free for all than the concerns of ordinary football supporters."

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Notes for the Editor

• Richard Corbett was one of two MEPs to sit on last year's Independent Review of European football.

• Following the report of the Independent Review of European football set up by the UK Presidency last year, the European Commission is due to produce a White Paper later this summer.  The Belet Report is Parliament's attempt to respond to the Independent Review and make its own input into the White Paper.

• Chris Heaton-Harris's adopted amendment removed the second half of paragraph Q from the Belet report which read: "Whereas the practice of the individual selling of broadcasting rights in certain leagues goes against the principle of solidarity and threatens completely to destroy the competitive balance."

• UEFA fully endorsed the Belet report and described themselves as "very worried" about Heaton-Harris's ammendment.

• Real Madrid and Barcelona recently signed exclusive, bilateral contracts with broadcasters that would bring each club around €1 billion over several years.

more information

Press enquiries: Contact Luke Thorne, Press and Communications Officer to Richard Corbett MEP

• phone 0113 245 8987
• e-mail luke@richardcorbett.org.uk