Premier League chief defends spending spree

Premier League boss Richard Scudamore says that the increased sums of money in English football are being used to good effect.

After a frenetic transfer deadline day last Monday, which saw the likes of Fernando Torres, Andy Carroll, Luis Suarez and David Luiz swap clubs for a combined total of over 120 million pounds, the big-spending tendencies of Premier League clubs amid an economic downturn have come under fire.

But speaking about the Premier League’s corporate and social responsibilities, chief executive Scudamore believes that the surge in spending allows the governing body to play a wider role in the community.

“I wouldn’t want to create anything like the impression that we are suddenly getting involved (in corporate and social responsibility) because of last Monday,” Scudamore said.

“As I say, we’ve had 28 years of ‘Football in the Community’ going in professional football. The Premier League’s got a long track record since it started of community involvement so this is just another extension.”

“On the left hand side, we have TV rights and transfer fees, we have large amounts of money in the game being used on talent acquisition. And on the right hand side, we have large amounts of money going to some good causes (to) fulfil our corporate and social responsibilities.”