SOCCER..pounds 4m CHARITY..pounds 2m; Anger as rich clubs grab

0 Comments | Sunday Mirror, Aug 12, 2001 | by DOMINIC TURNBULL

THE future of today's soccer showpiece the FA Charity Shield is under threat because of a row over revealing how much of the profits goes to good causes.

The FA will get an estimated income of pounds 6million from today's clash between Liverpool and Manchester United at Cardiff's Millennium stadium. Of that, just pounds 2million goes to charity.

The Charity Commission yesterday announced it was holding an inquiry into the Football Association's handling of ticket sales following a Sunday Mirror investigation.

Our inquiries have discovered how the soccer ruling body has failed to tell the 74,000 ticket holders just how much money will go to charity - despite giving "cast-iron" assurances to do so following last year's game between Chelsea and Manchester United.

The FA had intended to distribute a leaflet explaining the breakdown but technical problems meant only 25,000 fans received it.

In a desperate bid to inform other supporters, a full-page explanation will be included in the pounds 10 match programme.

The move has failed to impress Charity Commission chiefs who angered FA chiefs by announcing their inquiry on the eve of the match.

Yesterday the watchdog said it had opened a formal inquiry following the FA's "failure to meet its legal obligations regarding the sale of tickets for the FA Charity Shield".

Simon Gillespie, director of operations, said: "Our inquiry was begun as a result of issues brought to attention by the Sunday Mirror's investigation.

"Despite previous cast-iron assurances given to us in writing by the Football Association, they have still not acted in a satisfactory way. We will be holding an urgent meeting with FA officials early next week." If FA bosses are found guilty of breaching rules, they could face prosecution and be forced to take the humiliating step of dropping the word "charity" from next year's game. The inquiry has also put the spotlight on the distribution of Charity Shield funds to clubs, charities and the FA.

Gaynor Kelly, ticketing manager for Liverpool who have sold more than 30,000 tickets, confirmed: "All we received from the FA was the tickets. We were not sent anything from them explaining how good causes will benefit."" The picture was the same at Manchester United.

Last night a spokesman for the Department of Culture, Media and Sport said: ""We understand that the FA are seeking an urgent meeting with the Charity Commission next week."

FA spokesman Adrian Bevington strongly denied there were problems with ticketing. He said: "We accept that only 25,000 ticket holders received notification of the fund distribution process raised by the Charity Shield. This was due to unforeseen administrative circumstances.

"However, as a further measure we have placed a full-page article in the match programme to help reach remaining supporters.

"We have nothing whatsoever to hide and we look forward to meeting with the Charity Commission to discuss all the matters fully at the first possible opportunity.""

Mr Bevington added: "We are dismayed at the timing of this report, particularly as it came only 48 hours before this unique sporting event which we understand is the largest sporting charity donating event of its kind in this country.

"It seems rather ironic that the Charity Commission, which is not the most high-profile organisation, chose to time this notification to coincide with the event. The irony is not lost on the FA and we will be speaking to Government figures."

Last year's Chelsea-Manchester United game generated the FA about pounds 6million in ticket sales, programme sales, TV rights and merchandising. Just pounds 610,000 - 35 per cent of total ticket sales -went to good causes. This year, for the first time, the total income from ticket sales - around pounds 2 million - will be given to charity.

Manchester United and Liverpool will be allocated pounds 50,000 for the charity of their choice and pounds 100,000 is to be earmarked for a a nationwide good cause programme. Remaining cash will be shared among teams that reached the first round of the FA Cup last season.

But charities will not receive anything from the pounds 2million TV rights. These proceeds, as well as advertising and sponsorships deals worth an estimated pounds 1.5 million, go directly to the FA.

Steve Johnson, spokesman for the English Federation Of Disability Sports which last year received pounds 30,000 said: "If an event is billed as being for charity, then as much money as possible should go to good causes."

WHO GETS WHAT

THE Charity Shield generates an estimated pounds 6million

-pounds 2million is raised by the sale of tickets to the match

-pounds 2million comes from the sale of TV coverage rights

-pounds 500,000 comes from the sale of programmes

-pounds 1.5million comes from merchandising

Of the pounds 6million:

-pounds 2million goes to charity to be shared out by the FA, the Charity Shield match teams and clubs who reached the first round of the FA Cup last season.

pounds 4million minus costs goes to the FA