Project Big Picture: FSA slam proposals as 'sugar coated cyanide pill' as row over plan rumbles on

The Football Supporters’ Association have slammed the proposals of Project Big Picture and labelled them “a sugar coated cyanide pill”.

The organisation agree the game in England is going through a financial crisis, but have argued the plans devised by Liverpool and Manchester United’s owners are not the solution.

The FSA have promised to lobby the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, and all the football authorities, including the FA Council, which meets on Thursday.

They have urged the Premier League and Government to step up and deliver an alternative financial package for the EFL and National League, which should cover lost gate receipts and match-day income.

The FSA have stressed to action needs to happen “in hours, not days or weeks”, because “days or weeks means clubs going bust.”

“Days or weeks means EFL clubs being tempted by the sugar-coated cyanide pill offered up by billionaire owners who do not understand or care about our football culture," they added.

In a statement posted on Tuesday, the FSA said: “Football is in crisis, many clubs desperately need financial support to help them survive, and the game’s wealth has to be shared more fairly – but the ‘Project Big Picture’ plans are not the answer and they would be an absolute disaster for our game.

“The insatiable greed of a small handful of billionaire owners cannot be allowed to determine the structure of football in this country.

“Their desire to stitch things up behind closed doors, without even speaking to their fellow clubs, let alone fans, makes crystal clear the urgent need for the Government’s promised fan-led review of football governance.

“We are not defending the status quo but ‘Project Big Picture’ is not the answer.

“For EFL clubs the impact could be even more drastic. While Project Big Picture dangles an alleged £250m “rescue fund” in front of clubs to cover lost revenues during the 2019-20 season they might actually be a sugar coated cyanide pill.

“We wouldn’t reject all the ideas – a £20 away cap on top-flight tickets and subsidised travel, guaranteed away allocations, and safe standing areas are all things we back – but the reality is that the overall package is not acceptable to supporters.

“As an organisation we’re more than happy to consider changes to football’s structure but the place for that is the Government’s proposed fan-led review and it has to include all interested parties – fans, clubs, leagues, players, match officials, the FA, and so on.”

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