Friday 13 January 2012

Arsenal's Arsène Wenger slams TV influence on Premier League fixtures


Arsene Wenger

Arsène Wenger is not happy with his team's fixture list. 
The Arsenal manager, Arsène Wenger, has said that football has "sold its soul" to television. The Frenchman also said that the Premier Leaguehad failed to take a strong enough stance against broadcasters' demands for fixture changes.
Live domestic rights to top-flight English games for 2010-13 raised a total of £1.782bn, while overseas income from 212 countries amounted to £1.4bn, a major increase on previous deals. Given such staggering amounts coming into the member clubs, Wenger accepts that altered schedules are part of the modern game. But he said that the league's governing body should do more to limit the impact such changes have on clubs.
"We have sold our soul and we do not control our fixtures any more," said Wenger, who will take his side to Swansea on Sunday. "It is the truth and I cannot say the television is wrong, but it is not normal that you can have a direct influence on the schedule through the television. The Premier League has to make sure there is a bit more fairness in the schedules. I don't believe in the last month or the last year, the Premier League has played a very fair role in the distribution of the fixtures."
Arsenal's FA Cup fourth-round tie against Aston Villa has been scheduled for Sunday 29 January 29 at 4pm, leading to a Premier League fixture at Bolton being pushed back to Wednesday 1 February. The Gunners will then host Blackburn at 1pm on Saturday 4 February.
That weekend Manchester City, who will have played at Everton on the previous Tuesday, will host Fulham at 5.30pm on the Saturday and Chelsea and Manchester United will meet at Stamford Bridge on Sunday. Liverpool will host Tottenham in Monday night's live game.
Wenger said that the demands of the viewing schedules – which span from Friday night to Monday evening – could have a direct influence on games.
He said: "Television is influenced by some clubs to choose the fixtures. Some clubs get advantaged by television. Is it Sky or is it ESPN? They have an influence there from the clubs directly and the Premier League should be a much bigger barrier than they are in front of that. I do not want to go personal on any club. I just think, when things are repeated, they are not a coincidence any more. In England, it is always very difficult to say what you feel about that but I am not the only manager who thinks that and I think there is a real problem."
Arsenal go to Wales looking to chase down the top four, having suffered a second defeat in 13 league games at Fulham, before their FA Cup win over Leeds. Tottenham's midweek victory over Everton saw the Gunners' arch rivals go level on points with second-placed Manchester United, three behind Manchester City.
Much has been made of the difference between the two north London clubs – Arsenal are nine points behind Spurs, whom they will face at the Emirates Stadium on 26 February. Wenger, though, said Gunners fans should not become obsessed with what is happening at White Hart Lane.
He said: "I don't look at Tottenham, frankly. We look at the potential we have and then think that we gave absolutely everything to fulfil it. The attitude is right and I am confident that we can do that.
"Tottenham are a good side, they make points, but there is a long way to go. At the moment it still looks very open and there is no one who dominates this championship. Let's wait to see what happens at the end of the season.
"No matter who wins the league, whether it is us or somebody else, we will respect it and congratulate them. At the moment what is important for us is to come back and fight. We will fight with Man Utd, Man City, Chelsea, Liverpool, Newcastle – all these teams – to go as far as we can."
Thierry Henry made a fairytale return to action when he came off the bench to score the winning goal against Leeds and Wenger said he could put Arsenal's former captain, who is on loan from the New York Red Bulls, straight in alongside the current captain, Robin van Persie, against Swansea.
"Thierry is ready to start a game like he was ready to start against Leeds," said the Arsenal manager. "The most important thing is that he helps the team to win games and the way he does it. I cannot tell you what will happen on Sunday. He can make us win games coming off the bench or he can make us win games starting them. Basically he just wants to help the team to win the games."
Source:http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/jan/13/arsenal-arsene-wenger-television-fixtures?newsfeed=true

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