http://www1.skysports.com/football/news/11095/7650117/Premier-League-in-UEFA-clash
The Premier League is on a collision course with UEFA over a European deal that domestic games should not clash with the Champions League.
The Premier League has refused to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) agreed between the European Professional Football Leagues (EPFL), arguing that playing domestic matches on European nights is sometimes unavoidable.
UEFA claims the Premier League is still bound by the agreement but that is fiercely disputed with the league insistent UEFA has no right to decide when domestic games are played.
There is also concern at Premier League headquarters that UEFA has created extra fixture clashes since 2010 by spreading the round of 16 ties over four consecutive weeks.
Premier League communications director Dan Johnson said: "We have refused to sign the MoU because although we would never seek to go head-to-head with European games, sometimes it's inevitable.
"We don't believe UEFA have the right to say when domestic leagues can and can't schedule their fixtures, especially when UEFA have themselves increased the number of European nights by spreading out their match days and moving the Champions League final to a Saturday."
Johnson added: "The EPFL may have accepted this but although we are a member of the EPFL we are not mandated by them to accept every policy."
Disagreement
However, UEFA's general secretary Gianni Infantino disagrees - insisting that the Premier League is obliged to abide by the memorandum.
He said: "The EPFL signed it and the Premier League is a member of the EPFL and all members are bound by it - it is clearly stipulated."
Premier League chairman Sir Dave Richards also serves as chairman of the EPFL but he was noticeable by his absence when the MoU was signed at UEFA's Congress in Istanbul in March.
Instead, the agreement was signed by Sergey Pryadkin, the president of the Russian Premier League.
Premier League matches have clashed with Champions League games in the past. The Merseyside derby between Liverpool and Everton in March was played on a Tuesday night when there were two Champions League games, after having been rescheduled due to Liverpool's involvement in the Carling Cup final.
The Premier League is on a collision course with UEFA over a European deal that domestic games should not clash with the Champions League.
The Premier League has refused to sign a memorandum of understanding (MoU) agreed between the European Professional Football Leagues (EPFL), arguing that playing domestic matches on European nights is sometimes unavoidable.
UEFA claims the Premier League is still bound by the agreement but that is fiercely disputed with the league insistent UEFA has no right to decide when domestic games are played.
There is also concern at Premier League headquarters that UEFA has created extra fixture clashes since 2010 by spreading the round of 16 ties over four consecutive weeks.
Premier League communications director Dan Johnson said: "We have refused to sign the MoU because although we would never seek to go head-to-head with European games, sometimes it's inevitable.
"We don't believe UEFA have the right to say when domestic leagues can and can't schedule their fixtures, especially when UEFA have themselves increased the number of European nights by spreading out their match days and moving the Champions League final to a Saturday."
Johnson added: "The EPFL may have accepted this but although we are a member of the EPFL we are not mandated by them to accept every policy."
Disagreement
However, UEFA's general secretary Gianni Infantino disagrees - insisting that the Premier League is obliged to abide by the memorandum.
He said: "The EPFL signed it and the Premier League is a member of the EPFL and all members are bound by it - it is clearly stipulated."
Premier League chairman Sir Dave Richards also serves as chairman of the EPFL but he was noticeable by his absence when the MoU was signed at UEFA's Congress in Istanbul in March.
Instead, the agreement was signed by Sergey Pryadkin, the president of the Russian Premier League.
Premier League matches have clashed with Champions League games in the past. The Merseyside derby between Liverpool and Everton in March was played on a Tuesday night when there were two Champions League games, after having been rescheduled due to Liverpool's involvement in the Carling Cup final.
