Latest news with #RichardMasters
Telegraph
a day ago
- Business
- Telegraph
Why the really big footballing names are shunning Saudi
It was around this time of pre-season in 2023 when journalists received phone calls shortly after interviewing one of European football's most high-profile players. He had given excellent answers about the upcoming campaign in the Premier League but asked if his comments on Saudi Arabia could be scratched from the record. 'The Premier League is still the place to be,' was the gist of his innocuous answer. Retracting the comment felt like he did not want to burn bridges with the Saudi Pro League (SPL), where lucrative contracts were getting dished out and future deals looked like a good pension plan for Premier League players. At the Premier League's campaign launch ahead of the season, chief executive Richard Masters suggested we needed to keep a careful eye on the SPL. Jordan Henderson had lifted the title a few years previously and was heading to Al-Ettifaq, while his Liverpool team-mates Fabinho and Roberto Firmino were signed by Saudi clubs. Riyad Mahrez and Aymeric Laporte won the Premier League with Manchester City then headed to the Middle East later in the summer. Two of Chelsea's Champions League-winning players, N'Golo Kante and Edouard Mendy, also made the move. Masters' assertion that 'it's a long road the Saudi Pro League has to go on' was at odds with the speed at which players in their peak years were being signed. Yet two years on and the predictions of the SPL being an endless tap of footballing wealth have not turned into reality. This summer in particular has seen the Saudi market slow down, to the point where intermediaries are focusing on European destinations to maximise wages for their clients. It is inconceivable that Masters would be asked about the Saudi threat when he next talks publicly. Not when the only notable deal from the Premier League to Saudi was João Félix bringing a dreadful period at Chelsea to an end, costing Al-Nassr just £26m up front and the rest in add-ons. Darwin Núñez may join him as Al-Hilal are interested, although Liverpool signing Florian Wirtz and Hugo Ekitike pushed him further down the pecking order at Anfield. Foreign players in the SPL are handsomely paid, not least Cristiano Ronaldo after his pioneering move from Europe and recent contract extension to stay at Al-Nassr. Yet the mega-deals are not just handed out with the arrival cards at Riyadh's King Khalid Airport. While Ivan Toney's deal from Brentford will see him earn the UK equivalent of £1m a week after bonuses, those contracts have not been negotiated recently. When interviewed by Telegraph Sport a year ago, SPL sports director Michael Emenalo claimed that Mohamed Salah and Kevin De Bruyne were the 'types of players' the competition wanted to attract. Both were within a year of being Bosman free transfers but Salah extended his deal at Liverpool and De Bruyne moved to Napoli. There was a failed attempt to land Bruno Fernandes from Manchester United this summer despite Sir Jim Ratcliffe needing to balance the books and his captain being unsettled as United dropped down the Premier League table last season. Interest in Ederson emerged but the Manchester City goalkeeper only held informal talks with Galatasaray in Turkey. Others who have been linked with eventually ending up in Saudi include Casemiro, who revived his United career in the last months of the season. Jose Mourinho had always left the door open to going to Saudi but has stayed in Turkey, where former Villa striker Jhon Duran also headed six months after being the biggest Saudi signing from the Premier League in the January window. Laporte is expected to be another departure before the summer trading ends, while Demarai Gray has traded the SPL for Birmingham City. Another eye-opening deal – albeit not from the Premier League – was David Hancko's proposed move from Feyenoord to Al-Nassr. The Dutch left-back looked set to join Ronaldo's team but at the last minute the deal collapsed and he ended up at Atlético Madrid. Feyenoord were quoted by ESPN as being upset with Al-Nassr for pulling the plug, while the player suggested the transfer fell through because Atlético made their move. Either way, this was another deal that went begging. Hopes of newly promoted Neom injecting money into the market with fees and wages has proved unfounded. Alexandre Lacazette cost them nothing, while the likes of Marcin Bulka and former West Ham forward Saïd Benrahma have arrived at the £10m-£15m mark. Their salaries are thought to average around the healthy £100,000-a-week mark after tax, which is lower than the big payers in football. The Saudi squeeze has been seen away from the SPL as well, with Newcastle enduring a torrid summer in the transfer market. The club owned by the Public Investment Fund of Saudi Arabia have missed out on several targets. They missed out on England goalkeeper James Trafford after taking too long to raise their bid to an acceptable £27m. Had they offered that amount earlier in the summer, Trafford would be their player. Instead, they dragged their feet and the delay cost them dearly. Manchester City were not in the market for a goalkeeper earlier in the summer but came back from the Club World Cup looking to bolster that position and had matching rights on Trafford. They moved swiftly and landed the player. They were also in the box seat for João Pedro but he ended up at Chelsea. Extending Alexander Isak's deal was on the agenda all season but never got done. Isak himself has been linked with Saudi clubs in the past, although this summer's trend of signings would suggest he is out of reach. Theo Hernández and Mateo Retegui moving from Italy have been high-profile acquisitions but there has been no hint at a marquee Premier League signing. Which direction will it go for the SPL? The doomsday scenario is to fade away like the Chinese Super League, whose Premier League arrivals – apart from Oscar – moved elsewhere when clubs there began to fold and restrictions on spending were imposed. There is a World Cup in Saudi Arabia in 2034 so another push for the limelight would be expected over the next nine years. The initial burst of 2022 signings are also coming to the end of their contracts in the next couple of years, so there could be investment in a new raft of stars to take the competition to the next level. As Masters suggested, it is a long road for them to compete with Europe's biggest leagues.
News18
6 days ago
- Business
- News18
Premier League Denies Rumours Of Reducing Teams From 20 To 18 Amid Fixture Chaos
Last Updated: Premier League CEO Richard Masters dismissed reducing the league to 18 teams, reaffirming the 20-club structure despite player workload concerns, prioritizing domestic football. Premier League CEO Richard Masters has dismissed speculation that the league could be reduced to 18 teams, reaffirming that the top flight will maintain its traditional 20-club structure despite mounting pressure over player workload and fixture congestion. Recent reports had suggested the Premier League was considering a move to trim the number of teams as a response to the increasingly crowded football calendar. However, Masters confirmed that no such changes are being considered at this time. Packed Schedules Raising Player Welfare Concerns The Premier League continues to face scrutiny over the intensifying schedule, especially as international and domestic competitions expand. Players, coaches, and clubs have increasingly voiced frustration over the lack of adequate rest and recovery time between seasons. This summer has been particularly demanding, with several Premier League clubs taking part in the newly expanded FIFA Club World Cup in the United States. The tournament left just a three-week window for pre-season preparations before the 2025–26 campaign kicks off on August 15. BBC. The 32-team Club World Cup, held for the first time in a summer format, significantly shortened the off-season for top clubs. The compressed break has led to player fatigue and questions over long-term health and performance. Masters stressed that evaluating the tournament's success is not within his remit, but insisted that domestic football must not be sidelined. 'The jury is out about the competitiveness of the format and the scheduling and the underlying economics, but it is not my job to assess the success or otherwise of the Club World Cup," he said. 'It is my job to assess whether these new competitions have an impact on the domestic calendar and domestic competitions, of which the Premier League is one." 'Since 1994, the Premier League has been 380 matches, 20 clubs. We haven't changed shape at all," he noted. 'Now we are starting to redesign our domestic calendar at the altar of European and global expansion." Masters also criticized the lack of meaningful consultation between FIFA and other major leagues. 'There has to be, at the top of the game, a proper dialogue between FIFA and all the stakeholders about how these things go forward. That has been sadly missing," he added. First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
The Irish Sun
6 days ago
- Sport
- The Irish Sun
Premier League boss Richard Masters fires warning over cutting number of teams down from 20
PREM boss Richard Masters has warned Fifa and Uefa that the top flight will NEVER be reduced to 18 clubs - unless it WANTS to. Major European leagues including the Prem and LaLiga fear the expansion of club competitions will have a detrimental effect on domestic leagues. Advertisement 3 Richard Masters has warned Fifa and Uefa that the top flight will never be reduced to 18 clubs Credit: Getty 3 Fifa are already talking about making their new 32-team Club World Cup into a 48 or 64-side competition Credit: Reuters Fifa are already talking about making their new 32-team Club World Cup into a 48 or 64-side competition next time, while it is believed the Champions League may move to 10 games in the league phase from the current eight - which now runs from September to January - inside a decade. But speaking in Chicago during the Prem's Summer Series involving Everton and Masters said: 'First of all, congratulations to 'We know Fifa will be looking at the competition now, the first iteration. The jury is out about the competitiveness of the format and the scheduling and the underlying economics. Advertisement READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWS 'It is not my job to assess the success or otherwise of the Club World Cup. 'But it is my job to assess whether these new competitions have an impact on the domestic calendar and domestic competitions , of which the Premier League is one. 'Since 1994, the Premier League has been 380 matches, 20 clubs. 'We haven't changed shape at all and we are now starting to redesign our domestic calendar at the altar of European and international expansion and global expansion in Fifa competitions .' Advertisement Most read in Football Breaking BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK While the Prem was originally designed to be reduced from 22 clubs to 18 when it was founded three decades ago, the change stuck at the 20 sides agreed for the 1995-96 season. Masters, though, pointed out: 'FA Cup replays don't take place now because there is no room in the schedule. Man Utd & Newcastle in £40M Tug-of-War for Bundesliga Wonderkid! 'We are starting our season a week later than we normally do because we have recognised the fact that Fifa competitions are getting bigger. Advertisement 'There is a 48-team World Cup next summer , so we are asking the players to play in more matches. 'My job is to ensure the Premier League remains as competitive as possible. 'I want players to be fully available to take part in league matches. That is my concern. 'There has to be a proper dialogue between Fifa and all the stakeholders about how these things go forward. Advertisement 'That has been sadly missing. It is not the same with Uefa. We do get to talk and we can feel our voice in the decisions they come to. 'We may not be happy about everything that is put forward but at least we have a seat at the table and a discussion via the European Leagues forum. 'Player welfare is a concern, congestion in the calendar is a concern and proper dialogue is the only answer. 'But I don't think we should be forced into that decision on the number of club. We should be able to self determine that situation. Advertisement 'The Premier League hasn't changed shape. I am all for the growth of the game. I am all for exciting competitions our clubs can participate in, but not at the expense of domestic football .' 3
Scottish Sun
6 days ago
- Business
- Scottish Sun
Premier League boss Richard Masters fires warning over cutting number of teams down from 20
Prem was originally designed to be reduced from 22 clubs to 18 when it was founded LEAGUE CUT Premier League boss Richard Masters fires warning over cutting number of teams down from 20 Click to share on X/Twitter (Opens in new window) Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window) PREM boss Richard Masters has warned Fifa and Uefa that the top flight will NEVER be reduced to 18 clubs - unless it WANTS to. Major European leagues including the Prem and LaLiga fear the expansion of club competitions will have a detrimental effect on domestic leagues. Sign up for Scottish Sun newsletter Sign up 3 Richard Masters has warned Fifa and Uefa that the top flight will never be reduced to 18 clubs Credit: Getty 3 Fifa are already talking about making their new 32-team Club World Cup into a 48 or 64-side competition Credit: Reuters Fifa are already talking about making their new 32-team Club World Cup into a 48 or 64-side competition next time, while it is believed the Champions League may move to 10 games in the league phase from the current eight - which now runs from September to January - inside a decade. But speaking in Chicago during the Prem's Summer Series involving Manchester United, Bournemouth, Everton and West Ham, chief executive Masters gave his strong stance against any efforts to force a reduction. Masters said: 'First of all, congratulations to Chelsea. It is great to have an English club winning it. 'We know Fifa will be looking at the competition now, the first iteration. The jury is out about the competitiveness of the format and the scheduling and the underlying economics. READ MORE FOOTBALL NEWS STAR'S TRAGIC LOSS Bayern star Sven Ulreich announces tragic death of his six-year-old son 'It is not my job to assess the success or otherwise of the Club World Cup. 'But it is my job to assess whether these new competitions have an impact on the domestic calendar and domestic competitions, of which the Premier League is one. 'Since 1994, the Premier League has been 380 matches, 20 clubs. 'We haven't changed shape at all and we are now starting to redesign our domestic calendar at the altar of European and international expansion and global expansion in Fifa competitions.' BEST ONLINE CASINOS - TOP SITES IN THE UK While the Prem was originally designed to be reduced from 22 clubs to 18 when it was founded three decades ago, the change stuck at the 20 sides agreed for the 1995-96 season. Masters, though, pointed out: 'FA Cup replays don't take place now because there is no room in the schedule. Man Utd & Newcastle in £40M Tug-of-War for Bundesliga Wonderkid! 'We are starting our season a week later than we normally do because we have recognised the fact that Fifa competitions are getting bigger. 'There is a 48-team World Cup next summer, so we are asking the players to play in more matches. 'My job is to ensure the Premier League remains as competitive as possible. 'I want players to be fully available to take part in league matches. That is my concern. 'There has to be a proper dialogue between Fifa and all the stakeholders about how these things go forward. 'That has been sadly missing. It is not the same with Uefa. We do get to talk and we can feel our voice in the decisions they come to. 'We may not be happy about everything that is put forward but at least we have a seat at the table and a discussion via the European Leagues forum. 'Player welfare is a concern, congestion in the calendar is a concern and proper dialogue is the only answer. 'But I don't think we should be forced into that decision on the number of club. We should be able to self determine that situation. 'The Premier League hasn't changed shape. I am all for the growth of the game. I am all for exciting competitions our clubs can participate in, but not at the expense of domestic football.'
The Sun
6 days ago
- Business
- The Sun
Premier League boss Richard Masters fires warning over cutting number of teams down from 20
PREM boss Richard Masters has warned Fifa and Uefa that the top flight will NEVER be reduced to 18 clubs - unless it WANTS to. Major European leagues including the Prem and LaLiga fear the expansion of club competitions will have a detrimental effect on domestic leagues. 2 2 Fifa are already talking about making their new 32-team Club World Cup into a 48 or 64-side competition next time, while it is believed the Champions League may move to 10 games in the league phase from the current eight - which now runs from September to January - inside a decade. But speaking in Chicago during the Prem's Summer Series involving Manchester United, Bournemouth, Everton and West Ham, chief executive Masters gave his strong stance against any efforts to force a reduction. Masters said: 'First of all, congratulations to Chelsea. It is great to have an English club winning it. 'We know Fifa will be looking at the competition now, the first iteration. The jury is out about the competitiveness of the format and the scheduling and the underlying economics. 'It is not my job to assess the success or otherwise of the Club World Cup. 'But it is my job to assess whether these new competitions have an impact on the domestic calendar and domestic competitions, of which the Premier League is one. 'Since 1994, the Premier League has been 380 matches, 20 clubs. 'We haven't changed shape at all and we are now starting to redesign our domestic calendar at the altar of European and international expansion and global expansion in Fifa competitions.' While the Prem was originally designed to be reduced from 22 clubs to 18 when it was founded three decades ago, the change stuck at the 20 sides agreed for the 1995-96 season. Masters, though, pointed out: 'FA Cup replays don't take place now because there is no room in the schedule. Man Utd & Newcastle in £40M Tug-of-War for Bundesliga Wonderkid! 'We are starting our season a week later than we normally do because we have recognised the fact that Fifa competitions are getting bigger. 'There is a 48-team World Cup next summer, so we are asking the players to play in more matches. 'My job is to ensure the Premier League remains as competitive as possible. 'I want players to be fully available to take part in league matches. That is my concern. 'There has to be a proper dialogue between Fifa and all the stakeholders about how these things go forward. 'That has been sadly missing. It is not the same with Uefa. We do get to talk and we can feel our voice in the decisions they come to. 'We may not be happy about everything that is put forward but at least we have a seat at the table and a discussion via the European Leagues forum. 'Player welfare is a concern, congestion in the calendar is a concern and proper dialogue is the only answer. 'But I don't think we should be forced into that decision on the number of club. We should be able to self determine that situation. 'The Premier League hasn't changed shape. I am all for the growth of the game. I am all for exciting competitions our clubs can participate in, but not at the expense of domestic football.'
