FA Ready to Veto Project Big Picture
By Tom Gott
The English Football Association are ready to use their 'golden share' to veto Project Big Picture as they fear it would damage the Premier League.
The proposal, which is led by Liverpool and Manchester United, has garnered an enormous amount of criticism as it is designed to offer financial relief to the EFL in exchange for unparalleled control for the biggest clubs in English football.
As of yet, the plan is yet to garner the support which the two sides had expected, and according to The Times, Project Big Picture wouldn't go through even if it did get the support as the FA have always been adamant that they would block any change which would give the bigger sides more power.
The FA were given this 'golden share' when the Premier League was formed in 1992 and it gives the organisation enough power to definitively reject any plans like this one - ironically, the kind of authority Liverpool and United are looking for.
The idea of the 'big six' leaving to join the EFL would also be blocked by the FA, who will not do anything if it risks upsetting the balance of English football.
With so much opposition, The Telegraph suggest that Project Big Picture could be 'dead in the water', and have no chance of being approved.
?️ Club Statement: Project Big Picture.
— Bolton Wanderers (@OfficialBWFC) October 13, 2020
Read more ?? https://t.co/tJM8nXM7Qa.#BWFC ??
At least 13 Premier League sides are vehemently against the proposals, and with 14 needed to be in favour for the changes to go through, there does not appear to be much hope for Liverpool and United's idea.
The opponents of the plan held a private meeting on Monday to determine the level of opposition and how they should approach Wednesday's formal shareholder meeting, and there was a confidence that Project Big Picture will be over before it even began.
One common concern about the plan (apart from the perceived power grab) is that the financial promises do not appear to make sense. Several financial advisors and even Premier League officials have voiced concerns that the promises are unfeasible and it would even lead to a reduction in income of teams outside the top flight.
The Guardian add that the Premier League have been discussing less-drastic changes to the English game for a while now and they plan to continue to do so, but it's the absence of a formal proposal which is believed to have frustrated the EFL.
There is clearly somewhat of a divide between the Premier League and EFL, but that does not appear to be enough to bring any part of Project Big Picture to life.