Kieran Maguire takes dig at Liverpool owners in £100m claim – ‘looks like a bribe’
Liverpool owners FSG ‘have no interest’ in changes to the FA Cup and showed it through their Project Big Picture proposals.
That is the view of finance expert Kieran Maguire, who drew comparisons between Project Big Picture and the imminent changes to the FA Cup.
As reported by SportBusiness, the Premier League have approached the Football Association over the international media rights for the FA Cup from the 2024/25 season onwards.
The proposed changes to the competition would see replays scrapped, the final played on a Premier League weekend and changes to financial distribution.
The international rights currently bring in around £100million, but the Premier League want control over the competition’s broadcasting rights internationally.
Maguire believes the changes could see Premier League clubs such as Liverpool earn more prize money from the competition, but drew comparisons between the deal and FSG’s proposal for Project Big Picture in 2020.
Liverpool owner John Henry was at the forefront of the breakaway plans, which included a £100million ‘gift’ to the FA.
“There is no doubt that FSG have no interest in the wider game,” Maguire told Football Insider’s Sean Fisher.
“But as we saw with Project Big Picture, where they offered the Football Association a £100m gift which to many looked like a bribe, it showed that there is a way of greasing palms and opening doors.
“The discussions that have taken place with the FA regarding the FA Cup’s international rights are delicate.
“Many people think we already have a fait accompli in terms of the Premier League taking control.
“The overall size of the FA Cup prize pot could be maintained and potentially increased, but there will be repercussions in terms of number of matches played, when they are played and the distribution of money.
“But the FA needs cash to fund the grassroots of football and this is an opportunity for them to do so.“
In other news, Liverpool close in on Lavia deal – ‘expected to be agreed’