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Al Fayed takes aim at Premier League interests
England - 12 June, 2007
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Mohamed Al Fayed, the owner of English Fulham, was critical of the Premier League for its lack of acumen during commercial negotiations.
His criticism comes after the league sold its TV rights for GBP 2.1 billion, allowing even the lowest club in the league access to at least GBP 30 million in cash. Manchester United, which won the championship this season, earned that much this year.
Al Fayed said he has invested at least GBP 250 million into Fulham, and does not understand the interest in the Premier League.
"Most of the clubs are living on the edge," he said. "I can't understand what the rush is for all those people buying football clubs. Up until now every month I have to open my pocket and give a million or two million pounds.
"I am a chairman. I know the money I have to put in to keep the club surviving, with all the problems you face with the huge wages of players. If you want to win you have to pay up to GBP 100,000 a week. It is crazy."
The Al Fayed added the coup de grace, a shot at the people he pays.
"Imagine a player who can hardly read and write … can earn four to five million pounds," Al Fayed said.
Al Fayed has butted heads with league chief executive Richard Scudamore and chairman Dave Richards recently, including the Carlos Teven troubles at West Ham.
Fulham supported Sheffield United in its successful bid for the Premier League to hold an arbitration hearing after West Ham escaped a points deduction with the illegal signings of Tevez and Javier Mascherano.
Still, he said he would not part with Fulham, having built the club into a Premier League member.
His criticism comes after the league sold its TV rights for GBP 2.1 billion, allowing even the lowest club in the league access to at least GBP 30 million in cash. Manchester United, which won the championship this season, earned that much this year.
Al Fayed said he has invested at least GBP 250 million into Fulham, and does not understand the interest in the Premier League.
"Most of the clubs are living on the edge," he said. "I can't understand what the rush is for all those people buying football clubs. Up until now every month I have to open my pocket and give a million or two million pounds.
"I am a chairman. I know the money I have to put in to keep the club surviving, with all the problems you face with the huge wages of players. If you want to win you have to pay up to GBP 100,000 a week. It is crazy."
The Al Fayed added the coup de grace, a shot at the people he pays.
"Imagine a player who can hardly read and write … can earn four to five million pounds," Al Fayed said.
Al Fayed has butted heads with league chief executive Richard Scudamore and chairman Dave Richards recently, including the Carlos Teven troubles at West Ham.
Fulham supported Sheffield United in its successful bid for the Premier League to hold an arbitration hearing after West Ham escaped a points deduction with the illegal signings of Tevez and Javier Mascherano.
Still, he said he would not part with Fulham, having built the club into a Premier League member.
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