1 Jul 2010Labour MP slams English Premier League 'commercialism'

Football Finance News | Football Leagues/ Association and Governance

Labour leadership candidate Andy Burnham has issued fierce criticism of the current state of the English Premier League, claiming "rampant commercialism" has damaged the country's top flight.

In an interview with BBC Radio 5 Live, the Leigh MP claimed the English game has been "poisoned" by years of laissez-faire financial management and backed FIFA and UEFA calls to impose a quota of home-grown players in domestic competitions.

"Since the [English Premier League] was created we've had commercial forces running riot across our game," Burnham explained. "We have seen fans priced out of going to football."

The former health secretary suggested that the amount of talent imported into the English Premier League has allowed other countries to bring through new players, while at the same time hindering the progress of England's own youngsters.

Last month, former German internationals Franz Beckenbauer and Oliver Kahn both openly questioned whether the volume of overseas footballers is damaging the strength of the English national side.

Written by Paul Roberts

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