LONDON: Premier League clubs are holding a shareholders’ meeting on Wednesday after Football Association chairman Greg Clarke said a breakaway from the top flight was wielded “as a threat” during talks over radical proposals to restructure English football.
The “Project Big Picture” plan, backed by Liverpool and Manchester United, has been criticized by the government, the Premier League and fan groups.
Proposals include cutting the number of Premier League teams from 20 to 18, scrapping the League Cup, controversial changes to voting rights and a financial settlement for the English Football League (EFL).
Representatives of the 20 Premier League clubs will have the chance to debate the issue in the open for the first time during a virtual get-together on Wednesday that comes after an eye-catching intervention from Clarke.
In a letter to the FA council, which convenes on Thursday, he said he had taken part in initial discussions before walking away when he felt the aim had become “the concentration of power and wealth in the hands of a few clubs, with a breakaway league mooted as a threat.”
Clarke warned the FA could use its so-called “golden share” as a trump card if it felt the wider interests of the game were being compromised and suggested any breakaway competition would not receive the necessary sanctions from the governing body.
“We, the FA board and council, have to ensure that any changes would be to the long-term benefit of the whole of football and we have substantial controls to help ensure that the best interests of the game are served by any new proposals,” he said.
The plans have been championed by EFL chairman Rick Parry, with teams in the Championship, League One and League Two in line to receive £250 million ($323 million) up front alongside a promise of a 25 percent share of future Premier League broadcast revenue.
Support among the 72 EFL clubs appeared to be soaring after separate divisional meetings led by Parry on Tuesday, although the plans have reportedly been less well received by most Premier League clubs outside the elite names.
Former Leeds chairman Peter Ridsdale, representing Preston, said there were “no dissenting voices” in the Championship call, Burton Albion chief executive Jez Moxey described League One support as “unanimous” and Leyton Orient chairman Nigel Travis said excitement about the plans was “overwhelming.”
But Christian Purslow, chief executive of Premier League club Aston Villa, indicated his opposition to Project Big Picture before the shareholders’ meeting.
“I don’t think we should give too much credence to this particular plan,” he told the BBC. “I think a much broader, long-term plan for football is what I would expect to come from the Premier League.”
The Football Supporters’ Association has described the proposals as a “sugar-coated cyanide pill offered up by billionaire owners who do not understand or care about our football culture.”
A joint statement from supporters’ groups representing Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City, Tottenham, Arsenal and Chelsea followed, in which fans of the “Big Six” clubs made clear their opposition to the initiative in its current form.
English Premier League clubs debate radical reform plan
https://arab.news/c6xek
English Premier League clubs debate radical reform plan
- The ‘Project Big Picture’ plan is backed by Liverpool and Manchester United
- Football Supporters’ Association has described the proposals as a ‘sugar-coated cyanide pill’
From Jeddah to the world stage: Bader Idrees and Saudi Arabia’s tennis rise
RIYADH: As tennis continues to gain momentum throughout Saudi Arabia, several local players are beginning to emerge on the national and international scene. One of them is Saudi national team player Bader Idrees, whose journey mirrors the Kingdom’s evolving relationship with the sport.
Idrees’ first exposure to tennis came at a time when the local game was still developing. His interest began in early 2010 after watching his older sister train regularly.
“I was five years old when I used to watch my older sister playing tennis every day,” he told Arab News. “One of her coaches recommended that I try it out, and from the first hit, I fell in love with the sport.”
Now 20 years old, Idrees finds himself progressing alongside a country that is investing heavily in tennis. Over the past three months alone, Saudi Arabia has hosted the Six Kings Slam, the WTA Finals, and the Next Gen ATP Finals, an indication of its growing ambitions on the global tennis stage.
A defining moment in Idrees’ development came at the 2025 WTA Finals, where he reached a personal milestone in his role as a hitting partner for some of the world’s best players.
“It was one of the best experiences I’ve had so far,” he said. “To actually see the players and train with them was an eye-opening experience for me.”
The exposure offered by hosting elite tournaments has had a direct impact on aspiring Saudi athletes, providing valuable insight into the professional game.
“Seeing how players prepare for matches — from how they behave off the court to actually practicing on the court — was an amazing experience,” he said.
Beyond individual growth, Idrees believes the broader sporting ecosystem benefits from welcoming international events to the Kingdom.
“Hosting these events motivates every Saudi athlete,” Idrees said. “Foreign players get to know the country and the players who represent it, and it pushes us to perform better knowing that the world is watching.”
That motivation has translated into concrete goals. Idrees is planning a busy start to the year, with four international tournaments scheduled for January.
“I feel very positive about what I’ve accomplished so far, so hopefully I can kick off with a strong start in 2026.”
Despite recent progress, Idrees credits his early development at home as the foundation of his success.
“I don’t think I would be at this level if I weren’t in Saudi Arabia, and if I didn’t meet my coach Wajih there, who played a big role in my journey,” Idrees said.
To further advance his career, he later relocated to Cairo, where increased competition and exposure helped accelerate his development.
“That experience, combined with my coach’s motivation, made me believe I could truly go pro,” he said.
The journey was not without challenges. Idrees reflected on the limitations that once existed in the local tennis landscape.
“Tennis has grown massively in Saudi Arabia over the last few years,” he said. “But before that, we didn’t always have the best facilities or infrastructure. That’s why seeing the progress now makes me happy.”
Today, that transformation is happening at a rapid pace — something Idrees notices each time he returns home from international competition.
“Month by month,” as he puts it.
Whether in Riyadh, Jeddah, or Dammam, the changes are increasingly visible. Looking ahead, Idrees is optimistic about the next generation of Saudi players.
“I wouldn’t be surprised to see the kids playing at the under-10 and under-12 level find themselves in the top 500 or 300 within the next 10 years,” he said. “I see the discipline and motivation in them, and it truly is something special.”
He is also realistic about his own development compared with today’s young talents.
“I wasn’t at this level at 10, 12 years old,” he admitted. “Training with kids at that age now, I’m genuinely impressed. It’s why I’m feeling very positive about their future.”
With growing infrastructure, elite-level exposure, and rising ambition, Idrees’ story represents more than personal achievement. It highlights how Saudi Arabia’s expanding role as a host of global sporting events is reshaping its tennis landscape — and how a new generation of players may be poised to make an impact on the world stage in the years ahead.
