Premier League clubs have all signed up to a new owners’ charter.
The document was agreed among the 20 clubs at the Premier League Annual General Meeting. It was first proposed as a result of the European Super League to keep the “Big Six” in check and to make sure that another breakaway could happen again.
But the charter had to be put on hold until UEFA resolved the new-look Champions League which will come into effect from 2024. Previous Champions League proposals included special coefficient places based on previous success which would have been in direct contravention to the new-look charter.
UEFA’s proposals could have given English clubs a passport into the Champions League even if they had finished outside of the top four. But UEFA ditched those plans which meant the likes of Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool, Tottenham Hotspur and the two Manchester clubs were then able to agree to the charter which will be published imminently.
The key points of the charter are:
- EQUAL votes for all 20 clubs on key decisions
- FULLY open competition in the Premier League
- SPORTING merit which would stop any sort of coefficient system allowing clubs to get into the Champions League based on previous success
- ANTI discriminatory charter in the ongoing fight against racism, sexism and homophobia
It was all agreed at the Premier League meeting in Harrogate where they also agreed to a £30 cap on away tickets, a multi-million Russian TV deal was blocked and the rising problem in crowd violence was also discussed.
Clubs voted to officially introduce “away stewards” for the forthcoming season which is designed to identify trouble makers and sport problems. It means that if Chelsea were to play at Aston Villa, Chelsea stewards could travel to Villa Park to identify trouble makers which is something that clubs already use for European trips.
The Premier League will also work together with the FA, EFL, League Managers’ Association, police and stewards to discuss further solutions to the issue which saw a shocking rise in violence and pitch invasions at the end of last season.
Specialist crowd spotters will also be used at every Premier League ground to identify pockets of trouble, try to quickly remove the trouble makers while also pledging life bans for offenders.
Pitch invasions and fireworks are already illegal and the hope is that more prosecutions and strict police action will also follow.
