Caborn’s reform plans comes under fire

Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore has criticised plans for an overhaul of European football, saying there was no need for politicians and EU officials in the English game.

Premier League chief executive Richard Scudamore has criticised plans for an overhaul of European football, saying there was no need for politicians and EU officials in the English game.

Scudamore, writing in The Times on Tuesday, was responding to plans led by Sports Minister Richard Caborn to bring European football and the EU closer together, and to give more power to soccer’s ruling body in Europe, UEFA.

Scudamore argued that UEFA should stick to running club competitions, such as the Champions League and UEFA Cup, and that the Premier League needed no help from outside.

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“The Beautiful game is in danger of becoming Europe’s latest political football,” he wrote.

“It is domestic club football that is the driving force behind European competition and not the other way round. When it comes to how the game should govern itself we don’t need special treatment…we have created the best domestic league in the world.”

He added: “UEFA is not and should not be the governing body of European football – they have their own competitions to run and should be free to do so as they see fit, just as we have ours. The idea that the rest of European football can decide what is best for the English game is a nonsense.”

He also criticised suggestions that a cost control mechanism, designed to keep a lid on salaries, could be introduced in Europe. Turning to Caborn himself, Scudamore said: “The Premier League has huge respect for Richard Caborn and the job he does – but there is no need for a pseudo-European Sports Minister pushing an agenda that runs counter to continued success for the Premier League.

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“When it comes to the Beautiful Game, the only thing that should be kicked round Europe is a ball.”

Scudamore’s comments coincide with an EU sports ministers’ meeting in Brussels to decide the content of a future White Paper on the subject of sport in Europe.

Chelsea reach out to China via internet

LONDON: Chelsea are to produce a Mandarin-language Web site about the Premier League champions in a move to build the club’s brand in China. Chelsea have signed a deal with leading Chinese internet portal SINA, whose own site will carry a link to the new Chelsea site to be launched in mainland China in 2007. Paul Smith, Chelsea’s Business Affairs Director, said in a statement the Chinese Web site would be “adapted to the culture of that market. “This partnership marks the next stage of Chelsea’s development in China. Clearly we are becoming more popular and this is the right time to take that to the next level.” Chelsea, which has other partnership deals in China, also has a cooperation agreement with the Chinese Football Association and the Asian Football Confederation to develop grassroots football. Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon said: “China is a key market for us but our philosophy is to help Chinese football, as well as our own business, and our partnership with SINA will reflect that.”