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The Premiership is coming under increasing pressure from the European Union for alleged breaches of competition (anti-trust) law. It may now face formal charges for breaking EU competittion law over its television rights deal with BSkyB. The Commission and the Premiership have been locked in talks on how to resolve the dispute for two years, but despite offering some concessions such as agreeing that no single broadcaster will hold the rights exclusively from 2007, the league has so far been unable to meet the European Commission's concerns. EU competition commissioner Neelie Kroes has written to the Premier League explaining why she considers the most recent proposals unacceptable and asking them to come up with a more satisfactory solution at short notice. Failure to reach an agreement would probably lead the Commission issuing formal charges against the league for breaking EU competition law. This could lead to financial penalties equivalent to up to ten per cent of annual turnover. The Commission has been particularly frustrated by the Premiership's inability to sub-license six to eight games a season to other broadcasters as was agreed in the 2003 deal. However, officials are now focusing their efforts on imposing tougher conditions from the 2007-8 season.
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