Premiership Boss Steps Up Fight Against Brussels - 26/09/2005

The FA Premiership has denounced a plan by the European Commission to limit the number of games screened by any one broadcaster to fifty per cent. In a letter that marks a further deterioration in relations between the Premiership and the Commission, chief executive Richard Scudamore is urging MEPs to put pressure on the competition directorate to scrap its plans. This is perhaps a sign of desperation as DG Competition is one of the most autonomous directorates in the Commission staffed by lawyers who constantly refer to the duties and powers given to them by the European treaties. Up to now the Premiership has tried to negotiate with the Commission in private which is the usual way to handle such matters. The Premiership is clearly worried that a market in which one buyer could acquire at most half of the games would reduce revenues. Mr Scudamore complains that the Premier League is being unfairly treated by the Commission compared with other European leagues, citing the sale of exclusive French rights to Canal Plus last December for €1.8 billion. It may be, however, that the French were better at playing the Brussels game and that the Premiership was slow to realise how much power the Commission has in competition law questions. Of course, their decisions can be challenged in the European Court of Justice and are sometimes overturned, but that takes time and money.