Skip to main content

TV money should be given to local authorities

MPs are pushing ministers to impose a 50 per cent levy on all television money coming into football.

Labour MP Roger Godsiff tabled an early day motion on Monday pushing for the tax to improve facilities at the local level of the game.

After a disappointing performance in Brazil, where the national team failed to win a game in the group stage and were dumped out at the first hurdle, a motion has been started to see half of that money put back into local communites.

Much of the buck has been passed to the number of foreign players playing in the English top division.

But MPs have noticed that the setting up of the Premier League was meant to “benefit the England team and not to make owners, players and their agents fabulously rich.” 

The EDM read: “Football played in local communities is still being played on deteriorating pitches and changing facilities are often decrepit and unhygienic.

“The time is right for the government to impose a 50 per cent levy on all television monies coming into football with the proceeds not going to the Treasury but ring-fenced and administered by a reformed Football Foundation. 

“This would have a duty to ensure a more equitable redistribution of monies throughout professional football and would have responsibility for working with local authorities and schools to ensure that local pitches and facilities are radically improved.”

Domestic television income totals more than £5.6 billion and if half of that was given to a new Football Foundation the Premier League would still be the richest league in the world.

OWNED BY OUR READERS

We're a reader-owned co-operative, which means you can become part of the paper too by buying shares in the People’s Press Printing Society.

 

 

Become a supporter

Fighting fund

You've Raised:£ 13,288
We need:£ 4,712
3 Days remaining
Donate today