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Diahuebs 15 OctOber 2020

Breakaway threat by Premier League elite troubles English FA

(AP)- Leading clubs alleg- approve changes. Picture are means for clubs Ridsdale said. "However, to- on the contentious plans and
edly threatened to quit the to sell their own rights to live day the Football League has have left Parry to advocate
Premier League in a bid The FA could block the over- matches which would see the got a unique opportunity if for them in public as anger
to push through a trans- haul of competition, Clarke most popular clubs generate this remains on the table to as grown. Supporters' groups
formation of English soc- said, by using its “Spe- the most cash. perhaps protect the Foot- at United, Liverpool, Chel-
cer being engineered by cial Share” in the Premier The elite could use their ball League in the long term, sea, Arsenal, Tottenham and
Liverpool and Manchester League, which was created newfound power to later whereas at the moment in the Manchester City said they are
United that would hand in 1992 when it broke away force through new changes short term there is real dan- “totally opposed to concen-
them more power and from the EFL. to the structures or distribu- ger.” trating power in the hands
wealth. “In late spring, when the tion of revenue. Even EFL Ridsdale knows about the of six billionaire owners" and
principal aim of these discus- clubs backing the plans have Premier League power ending the collective ethos of
Football Association chair- sions became the concentra- suspicions, including Pres- mechanisms — and finan- the league.
man Greg Clarke disclosed tion of power and wealth in ton, which won the first two cial difficulties — after be- “This part of the proposal
the warning by elite clubs as the hands of a few clubs with editions of the English cham- ing chairman of Leeds when must be dropped immediate-
the reason he walked away a breakaway league mooted pionship in 1889 and 1890. it reached the Champions ly if other elements are to be
from talks earlier this year on as a threat,” Clarke wrote to League semifinals in 2001 given serious consideration,"
“ Project Big Picture,” which members of the FA Council, “If I’m absolutely frank, do I after spending beyond its they said in a statement.
only become public on Sun- "I of course, discontinued my trust the (Premier League's) means and threatening the
day. The plans — if approved involvement and counseled top six today irrespective of club's survival. Leeds was The FA is resisting the re-
— would pledge to redistrib- a more consensus-based ap- these proposals? No I don’t," relegated from the Premier vamp despite the promise of
ute more Premier League proach involving all Premier said Peter Ridsdale, the ad- League in 2004 and has only a gift of 100 million pounds
cash to the 72 professional League clubs and its chair viser to Preston's owner, returned this season. ($130 million) to help the
teams in the English Foot- and CEO. Our game needs after participating in a call governing body deal with
ball League. But woven into to continually seek to im- between clubs in the second- “Going forward it would the impact of the pandemic
the proposals is a transforma- prove but benefits need to be tier Championship. “I don’t be six clubs essentially that and provide an annual cut
tion of the power structures shared.” think some of them believe would determine what of revenue. “There is more
in the Premier League — that in the pyramid. I think some would happen to the Premier to our game than econom-
is even angering supporters The Premier League said the of them believe in a franchise League and, by definition, ics,” Clarke said. “Change
of the elite clubs who would plans formed by Liverpool system like you see in the English football," Ridsdale must benefit clubs, fans and
benefit the most. The num- and United's American own- United States." said. "That’s the piece that players; not just selective bal-
ber of teams would reduce ers with EFL chairman Rick That would see teams locked clearly is missing and needs ance sheets. In these difficult
from 20 to 18 from 2022, Parry would be damaging for into the Premier League resolving." Ahead of a virtual times unity, transparency and
and the nine longest-serving the English game, particular- without the threat of relega- Premier League meeting on common purpose must over-
clubs would gain more con- ly as it could widen the dis- tion. Wednesday, United and Liv- ride the interests of the few.”
trol — with only six having to parities. Within Project Big “Is it a concern? 100% it is," erpool have not commented

Dodgers' Clayton Kershaw scratched from Game 2 start in NLCS

(AP) — Clayton Kershaw ta Braves. The right-hander and went 6-2 with a 2.16 ERA 7-0 with a 1.49 ERA in 14 history.
was scratched Tuesday from hadn't pitched in a game in 10 starts as the Dodgers starts. He is 2-0 in three post- Gonsolin earned a spot in the
his start for the Los Angeles since Sept. 26. finished with the majors’ best season starts against Atlanta, Dodgers' rotation in late Au-
Dodgers in Game 2 of the record. He had 62 strikeouts allowing just one earned run gust after several outstand-
NL Championship Series Kershaw played some catch in 58 1/3 innings and finished in 21 innings. ing spot starts. He had a 2.31
due to back spasms, though on the field before Tues- second in the NL with an ERA in nine games during
manager Dave Roberts said day's game. Roberts said he 0.84 WHIP, while opponents the regular season with 46
the likelihood is very good wouldn't start Game 3 on batted just .194 against him. Although Kershaw has en- strikeouts in 46 2/3 innings,
their ace lefty will pitch in Wednesday and would not Kershaw has kept it up in the dured playoff problems in the earning consideration in the
the series. commit to which game could postseason with victories in past, his 11 postseason victo- crowded field for the NL
be targeted for Kershaw's re- two strong starts. “He’s been ries are the most in Dodgers Rookie of the Year award.
The three-time NL Cy Young turn. “It’s kind of day to day. completely dominant all year.
Award winner initially felt So I just really don’t want He’s been an ace. He’s back
spasms after a bullpen session to say what’s the soonest,” to his form and being totally
Saturday, three days after he Roberts said. “I don’t know.” dominant,” May said. “He’s
went six innings to win Game Roberts didn't say who definitely a leader and a key
2 of the National League Di- would start Wednesday, rul- guy to our group. And I just
vision Series against San Di- ing out only Game 1 starter hope that he’s going to be
ego. Roberts said Kershaw Walker Buehler and Dustin able to come back.”
has felt better each day since May, who also pitched Mon- When Kershaw wasn't ready
but wasn't ready to make the day night. for the opener, the 23-year-
scheduled start against the Los Angeles announced the old May became the first
Atlanta Braves. decision on its longtime ace Dodgers rookie to start on
about six hours before the opening day since Fernando
“Sunday, played some catch first pitch in Arlington, Tex- Valenzuela in 1981.
and just started to dissipate, as. Kershaw dealt with back
got a little bit better. And pain once previously during Kershaw threw eight score-
then yesterday, a little bit bet- an otherwise resurgent sea- less innings of three-hit
ter, even more,” Roberts said. son for the 32-year-old left- ball and struck out a career
“And then today just woke hander, a three-time NL Cy postseason-best 13 to beat
up and felt that it just wasn’t Young Award winner. Milwaukee in the wild card
quite where he wanted to be, Roberts said the spasms round. Kershaw picked up
we wanted it to be.” weren't related to the back another win in the Divi-
Rookie Tony Gonsolin was to tightness that forced Kershaw sion Series while allowing
make his major league post- to miss his opening start of three runs over six innings
season debut in Kershaw’s the regular season. against San Diego. Kershaw
place with the Dodgers down has dominated the Braves
1-0 in the series to the Atlan- Kershaw recovered quickly throughout his career, going