The fight for fourth (and maybe fifth, sixth and seventh)

Every so often, we in the football-supporters community get a sniff of some drastic idea to shake up football in this country. Recent entries have included the much-criticised 39th Game, and the much-sought goal-line technology. And now we have an idea that I think will really make things more interesting in the fight to be in the Champions League. And I’m sure Rich will agree. But maybe not Mike.

Early discussions between the Premier League and the 20 Premier League clubs have begun over the idea of a playoff for the fourth Champions League place. The acceptance of such a plan would see the top-three teams at the end of the season automatically qualify for Europe’s premier competition, with the fourth place being decided between the teams finishing in fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh place. If the current table was the one that finished the season, then Manchester City would face Aston Villa in a two-legged tie, and Liverpool would face Spurs, with the winners of each playing a final with a grand prize of the fourth available Champions League place. Of course this would be of great benefit to the teams who are regularly hanging around the top four (Villa, Spurs, Everton, and now Man City), but of great annoyance to those teams who may finish in fourth, namely Liverpool and Arsenal.

So it is really no surprise to hear both Rafa Benitez and Arsene Wenger come out against the proposal. For them, the idea of an established top four is currently keeping them financially afloat. Liverpool’s debts are no secret, whilst Arsenal’s new stadium has come at a price of limited spending. As a result, both sides have slipped behind both Chelsea and Manchester United in the fight for honours. Liverpool’s last taste of silverware was lifting the FA Cup in 2006, whilst Arsenal won the same competition the year before and have since come under increasing pressure to win at least one of the domestic titles if not the Premier League or Champions League.

Despite their lack of trophies in recent years, both clubs have consistently finished in the Champions League qualification places, and as a result their finances have stayed strong. The gulf in financial benefit between clubs in the Champions League and clubs in the Europa League is enormous. According to wikipedia:

“UEFA awards €3 million to each team that qualifies for the UEFA Champions League, plus €2.4 million for participating in the Group stage. A Group stage win is worth €600,000 and a draw is worth €300,000.

In addition, UEFA pays each quarter finalist €2.5 million, €3 million for each semi-finalist, €4 million for the runners-up and €7 million for the winners.^“

Not to mention the money gained in television revenue, which would seem to be on the rise considering last year’s Champions League final was the most watched television event of the year, pipping the Super Bowl by 3 million views (109m to 106m). Although I cannot find any credible stats for the Europa League prize money, it would appear that most unofficial sources seem to believe that Europa League teams will collect around half the amount, with undoubtedly less money given out in TV revenue.

So why would the top teams vote for this? It is of no benefit to them. You could possibly see Manchester United going for it, simply because they would on the one hand be confident of finishing in the top three every season, and at the same time to spite their closest rivals Liverpool (and maybe Arsenal and Chelsea, but at the same time benefitting rivals Man City…). However, I have very little doubts that at the very least 14 of the 20 clubs would vote for such a move, the minimum number required to pass such a motion.

So it may well be that the Premier League is given a shake up in the not too distant future. And I for one would be happy to see such a plan come in. Sure, my Villa connections mean that this would give Martin O’Neill’s side a better chance of getting into the Champions League – like most sides around the top four, they can beat any side on a good day – but I think it would eventually even out the playing field around the top four, providing more exciting competition between the top teams, and quite possibly forcing teams such as Liverpool to balance their finances more carefully, for fear that they may not be able to guarantee Champions League revenue to allow their debts to go unpaid.

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