The Premier League is facing the threat of legal action from three of football’s largest agencies ahead of a key vote on introducing a salary cap. CAA Stellar, CAA Base and Wasserman have informed league chiefs they will challenge the move in court if it is approved, arguing it breaches competition law.
The vote, scheduled for Friday, concerns ‘anchoring’, which would limit clubs’ spending to five times the prize money and broadcast revenue paid to the bottom-placed team. The cap would be set at £550 million, aiming to create a more level playing field. The Professional Footballers’ Association (PFA) has also threatened legal action, with chief executive Maheta Molango stating that artificially capping earnings would not withstand a legal challenge.
The agencies, who represent stars such as Jack Grealish, Cole Palmer, Eberechi Eze, Curtis Jones and John Stones, believe the proposal restricts players’ ability to earn and could drive talent abroad. Both Manchester clubs oppose the cap, fearing it would weaken the league’s global appeal and prompt top players to seek higher wages elsewhere.
Last year, 16 clubs including Arsenal voted in favour of the principle, but 14 of the 20 are needed for implementation. The PFA is set to meet captains from all top-flight sides this week, amid warnings the game is on the brink of civil war. The Championship is also considering a similar system, which could spark further discord.
One club executive said the cap would “kill the status as the best league in the world and all the money that brings”, adding that the league was being “sleepwalked into disaster”. However, smaller clubs with less financial muscle are expected to benefit from the measure.
