Maybe EPL is the best and reputed soccer league in the world, but there are many other leagues where these English clubs are long trying to make an impact. European Champion league is one such league which has ever been on the target of top EPL clubs. Moreover, the timings of both these leagues are apparently same; hence many times, it happens when a club does not get enough time to prepare for its next match of another league. Since, matches’ schedules are drafted in consultation with sponsors, especially TV sponsors, most of the teams face a tight schedule but they never spoke anything about it openly. Now, one of the most prestigious and successful soccer manager Sir Alex Ferguson has come forward and spoke loudly about the control these TV sponsors have developed on EPL or any other league for that matter. Manchester United has always been a toughest team to beat at English soil, but in other European leagues, its position is rather different, and now, United’s manager Alex Ferguson is blaming their playing schedules for lack of success on European soil.
In present case, Manchester United has to play its crucial Champions League match with Real Madrid on Wednesday, after two days of their EPL clash with Everton. While Real Madrid has to play an another league La Liga game with Seville on Saturday; hence it is getting one extra day to prepare for their big showdown with EPL champions, and here comes the controversy. According to Ferguson, United’s clash with Everton could have been easily shifted to Saturday giving them equal amount of time to prepare, but due to TV channels’ commitments, EPL is not able to do that; therefore he is unhappy with the pressure these TV broadcasters have long been putting on league operators. He is even ready to boycott their EPL game to show his protest against it.
He furiously described broadcasters’ control by saying, “The Premier League agree the contract with TV and they are in control. But they are not giving our teams a chance to be successful in Europe. It is ridiculous to think we are playing on Sunday and Real Madrid have an extra day’s rest. It is not fair. France play Friday nights. Why? Possibly we get more money out of television I don’t know. Other countries make sacrifices for their top teams in Europe. What can you do? Not turn up? I would like to do that by the way.”