What is set to be the most seismic event in English football since the Premier League's formation in 1992 is set to be discussed by the game's biggest powerbrokers on Friday.
According to The Times, six of English football's leading figures representing the Premier League, FA and EFL will meet in person for the first time to discuss plans for a radical shake-up of the English game - one where FA Cup replays could be scrapped from round three, where the Community Shield could become a marketable international exhibition game and where teams competing in Europe can opt out of the Carabao Cup.
Reported to be present at the meeting will be Alison Brittain, who took over as Premier League chairwoman this week, FA chair Debbie Hewitt, and the EFL head, former Liverpool chief Rick Parry, while Richard Masters, the Premier League chief executive, will be there alongside Mark Bullingham of the FA, and the EFL’s Trevor Birch.
READ MORE: FSG set to announce historic £275m deal that Liverpool fans will also want to see
READ MORE: John Henry booed as FSG under pressure on both sides of Atlantic
Liverpool had been a major driving force behind the plans for 'Project Big Picture' back in 2020, where the biggest clubs wanted to reduce the number of Premier League teams, and have the calendar freed up for more exhibition games overseas by abandoning the likes of the Carabao Cup. The trade-off was that more money would be forthcoming from the Premier League to the EFL. The Times report that the EFL, with the new proposals for the shake-up of the English game, are seeking an extra £300m annually, claiming that so far the Premier League has fallen short on that with a pledge of £160m.
While such a change to the domestic game wouldn't satisfy everything that Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group and other agitators for Project Big Picture had sought to achieve, not competing in tournaments such as the Carabao Cup, which is not a lucrative endeavour for the biggest clubs when compared to the top prizes, would be welcomed in the seasons when the calendar was hectic through European competition. The relentless nature of the English calendar has long been a bug bear for the likes of Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp.
Changes to the Community Shield would also be seen as a move in the right direction for the clubs taking part, who don't like that the game takes place prior to the season and impedes their very lucrative pre-season tours. Of the potential solutions put forward there could be the possibility of taking the game abroad to promote the Premier League globally or, as the Times suggest one club wants to pursue, the arrival of an All-Star Game, something that Chelsea owner Todd Boehly spoke publicly in favour of last year.
The aim of the so-called 'New Deal For Football' is to reduce congestion on the fixture list, something that will be exacerbated for the biggest clubs with the 2024 expansion of the UEFA Champions League and the plan for a revamped 32-team FIFA Club World Cup competition from 2025.
The talks will take place in advance of the Government producing a white paper in the coming weeks where it will outline its plans for a statutory independent regulator for the English game.
READ NEXT:
- Cody Gakpo offers Liverpool selection hope but new midfield absence sparks concern
- Liverpool may have already lined up Jude Bellingham's perfect midfield partner
- Liverpool uncertainty continues as Joel Matip injury admission shows need for new partnership
- Jude Bellingham transfer value emerges as Liverpool January bargain move 'confirmed'
- Cody Gakpo transfer could force Liverpool to axe three players from CL squad
