Clubs agree to share £1billion outside the Premier League

Premier League clubs have agreed to spend at least £1billion on causes outside the Premier League from 2016 to 2019 and to adopt a living wage for full-time employees by the start of 2016/17 season.

Clubs met for the first time since the announcement of the outcome of the sale of UK live broadcast rights for the seasons 2016/17-2018/19 and agreed that the long-standing policy of sharing the Premier League’s success with a wide range of beneficiaries should continue.

It was agreed they there would be five priority areas for investment, in addition to the contractual commitment to provide parachute payments to relegated clubs. 

The five areas will be grassroots facilities, participation – sporting and educational development of young people, fan engagement and matchday experience, solidarity with lower leagues and supporting disadvantaged groups.

Premier League chief executive, Richard Scudamore, said: “The clubs have always stepped up to the plate when it comes to sharing their success. They appreciate that the development of the Premier League is contingent to a high degree on continued high levels of passionate support and a vibrant football pyramid.

"These are unprecedented levels of redistribution in world sport, let alone football, which will deliver long-term progress for English football whether you are a fan, lower league club or involved in the grassroots.

“Clearly this package is dependent on the outcome of our international live rights and the ongoing Ofcom investigation, so the detail won’t be known until later this year or in early 2016.

“The clubs also committed to adopting the living wage for all their full-time employees by the start of the 2016/17 season at the latest.

“All this demonstrates once again that a good result for the Premier League is good for the rest of the game and beyond.”