Television has too much power, moans Ferguson

Manchester: Television companies have too much power over English football, complained Manchester United manager Alex Ferguson on Monday, despite the rise in broadcast revenue over the last 20 years helping his club dominate English football.

In a television interview with BBC North West Tonight, Ferguson said rights holders rather than clubs were in control of the fixtures list.

United regularly have their games shown on television but the manager is unhappy that the Premier League fixture list is determined by the rights holders for live matches - Rupert Murdoch-controlled BSkyB and The Walt Disney Co.'s ESPN.

"When you shake hands with the devil you have to pay the price," Ferguson told the BBC, which broadcasts highlights from the Premier League.

United alone received 60.4 million Pounds in broadcast revenue last season - the most of any of the top-flight clubs according to figures released by the league - as they won a record 19th English title, helping the club clear 51.2 million Pounds of interest costs to meet debts.

"Television is God at the moment. It's king," Ferguson said. "It shows itself quite clearly because when you see the fixture list come out now, they can pick and choose whenever the top teams they want them on television."

"You get some ridiculous situations like playing on a Wednesday night in Europe and then 12:30 at lunchtime on Saturday. You ask any manager, 'Would you pick that himself.' Absolutely no chance."

Asked if television had too much power, he replied: "Oh, absolutely, yes."

England's top-flight clubs decided to break away from the other divisions in 1992 and formed the Premier League to increase their shares of television revenue.

In the inaugural season in 1992-93, the clubs shared just 46 million Pounds, compared with 1.2 billion Pounds now split annually from sponsors and television companies.

That television revenue has turned the Premier League into the richest football league in the world and helped make United the most valuable team according to Forbes magazine. It is also the most successful English club, with 12 league titles in 19 seasons.

Ferguson, however, said that it was not enough in view of the fact the league had sold the product to 200 countries.

"When you think of that, I don't think we (clubs) get enough money," he said.

Boasting 333 million fans worldwide, United have capitalized on the league's global appeal to bring in a record 331.4 million Pounds in revenue in the fiscal year ending June 30.

"Manchester United have almost had a lion's share of TV revenue over a period of time and it has helped build a fantastic stadium in Old Trafford and helped build Sir Alex's teams with star players," former Football Association chief executive Brian Barwick told the BBC.

United's appeal also owes a lot to Ferguson, who has managed the club since 1986.

The 69-year-old Scot was also quizzed on Monday about his famously fiery personality which once saw him kick a boot that struck David Beckham's face during a dressing room bust-up.

"I'm a confrontational character. I don't like people arguing back with me," Ferguson said. "I maybe have a short fuse."