UEFA asks elite clubs to take CL pay cut

Updated: June 23, 2008, 1:27 PM EST 8 comments

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NYON, Switzerland (AP) - UEFA wants Europe's wealthiest clubs to vote themselves a pay cut from Champions League revenues.

European football's governing body made the announcement Monday when it revealed what clubs got in a €585 million (US$905 million) payout from television and marketing deals for the competition last season.

European champion Manchester United got the most - €43 million (US$67 million) - and finalist Chelsea took home €36 million (US$56 million). England was the best rewarded country with combined earnings of €129 million (US$200 million) once the share of Liverpool and Arsenal was added.

The numbers will fuel the debate that an elite group of wealthy clubs is making European football uncompetitive.

"We are sensitive to this criticism of the rich clubs getting richer," UEFA spokesman William Gaillard said. "We are under some pressure.

"There have been statements by members of the European Parliament who would like to see a more equal distribution of revenue among clubs."

Gaillard said the issue will be put before the European Professional Football Strategy Council, a UEFA-backed panel of representatives from clubs, leagues, football associations and players' unions.

"We plan to open up a dialogue," Gaillard said. "Our president Michel Platini believes in consensus and we have an excellent tool for that with our strategy council."

Change could not happen until 2012 when existing television deals and agreements on the Champions League format expire.

"We have time, we have three years to discuss this. We think everyone will be reasonable," Gaillard said.

"I'm sure these big clubs don't want to compete in leagues that would be permanently unbalanced and lopsided. Then it would also affect their own revenues because interest will decline."

The Champions League payout rewarded 32 clubs from 15 countries who took part in the group stage and subsequent knockout rounds with appearance fees and prize money for matches and points won. The figures don't include ticket sales.

Teams which played in a big media market - such as England - got a bigger share of the television income.

Italian side AS Roma finished third in the money table with €29 million (US$45 million) despite only reaching the quarterfinal stage.

Bottom of the elite rankings was Dynamo Kiev of Ukraine with €5.9 million (US$9 million) after losing all six of its matches.

Figures for the UEFA Cup make clear the financial penalty for clubs who fail to make the Champions League.

The UEFA Cup was worth just €37 million (US$31 million) in total.

German powerhouse Bayern Munich was a Champions League winner in 2001 but finished fourth in the 2006-07 Bundesliga. Bayern made €4.5 million (US$7 million) from reaching the UEFA Cup semifinal stage.

UEFA Cup winner Zenit St. Petersburg of Russia earned €5 million (US$7.7 million) from the competition.

Beaten finalist Glasgow Rangers, which benefited from lucrative British television deals, got €5.1million (US$7.9 million). It had already earned €9.7 million (US$15 million) from its six Champions League group games.

"We are confident that over the next three years the gap between the Champions League and the UEFA Cup will narrow," Gaillard said

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