Arsenal, Chelsea, Manchester United, Liverpool and Newcastle have been named by the Premier League as England’s biggest clubs in preparation for the bidding for TV contracts under the recent EC ruling.

The decision to select the big five now is one of a series of guidelines agreed with the European Commission for the upcoming auction of the Premiership’s television rights.

The Daily Telegraph reports that now matches involving the nominated big five clubs are to be shared equally across all six contracts to be let for 2007 onwards to ensure the Premier League attract the highest offers from TV companies. There is also flexibility in the new deals to ensure games which take on a bigger value later in the season – such as relegation games – are also shared equally across the six deals.

Sixteen years ago when First Division clubs began discussing the formation of a super league to take advantage of satellite TV, the self-appointed big five were Manchester United, Arsenal, Liverpool, Everton and Tottenham.

Cole

Legal circles take a longtime to turn, but there’s an interesting article in Legal Week on the implication of the Ashley Cole/ Chelsea affair over the enforceability of FAPL rules and rule K5 and the jurisdiction of the Court for Arbitration for Sport in Lausanne.

Basically it sums up that agents have far less opportunity to destabilise players, and gives rise to more team loyalty. The decision on 24 January this year also firms up the rules of FIFA and those football associations which have signed up to them.

The FAPL accepted that rule K5 operated as a restraint of trade, which Cole and his team argued, but it submitted that such a rule was necessary and readily justifiable in a football context. If the rule did not exist, it would be easier for agents to destabilise players. An increased churn rate in clubs would decrease the competitive integrity of teams and make the Premiership less attractive to spectators.

It also said the rule exists to protect players who may be injured and suffer poor form and is in their best ineterests creating the ‘best environment’ in which they can work. It was also collectively bargained for by the players union. The decision was affirmed by the Appeal Board of the FAPL on 23 August, 2005.

On 24 January, 2006, the CAS decided that it did not have jurisdiction, on the basis that the FAPL Rules provided that the decision of the FAPL Appeal Board was final.

The CAS decision makes clear that FIFA regulations do not give rise to enforceable third-party rights unless they are expressly incorporated into the constitutions of member associations or leagues involved.

Van Persie

Further proof that legal wheels take ages to turn: the rape charges against Arsenal’s Robin van Persie have been dropped due to lack of evidence. Van Persie was arrested on June 13 last year after a woman filed charges against him.

Fabregas and Djourou

Cesc Fabregas became the youngset player to play for Spain for 80 years, last night, even setting up a goal. Reyes hit a terrific goal, begging the question why he doesn’t do that for Arsenal more often. Jonathan Djourou made his full Swiss debut against Scotland.

Cole and Campbell

The Daily Star reported that Campbell was back in training, but the Independent says he’s out another month.

The Star also said that Cole would be back in training in a few days.

Davies

The Mirror reckons Arsenal are planning a £5m swoop for West Brom’s central defender Curtis Davies,, as a replacement for Campbell.

Davies, who joined from Luton for £3m says: ” I’m happy at Albion. I’ve only been here seven months so it’s ridiculous.”

Peter Osgood

Football mourns the passing of Peter Osgood.

I once played in a game with Peter Osgood – at a Trade Union holiday camp – he was there giving training sessions.

He was really down to earth and had great sense of humour. Football will miss him.

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ANR is moving to a new domain: http://arsenalnewsreview.co.uk/wp

We’ll keep posting articles here, as well as the the new site: Arsenal News Review until 12 March, giving everyone a chance to bookmark the new domain.

Then this domain ANR will remain as an archive – for the time being at least.

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Ian Grant