Premier League: £1bn to be distributed to the lower divisions and grassroots football over 2016-2019

The clubs of the Premier League have decided to distribute a minimum of £1bn / €1.36bn to the lower divisions of English football as well as amateur English football over the 2016-2019 period, said the professional league that manages the English first division on 26/03/2015. "This sum is unprecedented in world sport and will include a wide range of beneficiaries," said the Premier League.

Five priority areas for investment were chosen "in addition to the contractual commitment to provide parachute payments to relegated clubs": the infrastructure of grassroots football (especially youth football), youth participation in physical education programmes, fan engagement and matchday experience, solidarity with the lower leagues and supporting disadvantaged groups.

This amount will be taken from the 2016-2019 audiovisual revenues of the Premier League, which are already guaranteed to reach a record £5.34bn (€7.2bn) over the period (67% more than for 2013-2016, £3.198bn / €3.71bn), while the last two ITTs (Invitations to Tender) of domestic offers are yet to be launched. "This is despite…