Uefa keen to reduce European rewards for Premier League clubs

(GETTY IMAGES)

Uefa will try to persuade English clubs to accept a smaller chunk of future Champions League revenues after latest figures revealed another bumper European pay-day for the four Premier League sides last season.

Figures made available by European football's governing body yesterday showed that Manchester United, Chelsea, Liverpool and Arsenal earned a combined £102m from Champions League television and sponsorship cash – a figure that does not include gate receipts or matchday revenue.

As European champions United were by far the biggest earners with £33.9m while runners-up Chelsea were next with £28.7m. Liverpool took £21.1m and Arsenal £18.3m.

The current system is in place until 2012, but Uefa will seek to win backing for changes via the European Strategy Council, the consultative body representing clubs, leagues, players and associations.

William Gaillard, Uefa communications director and special adviser to Uefa president Michel Platini, said, "We are well aware there are some imbalances in the revenue distribution which have a negative effect in national leagues by widening the gap between the rich and not so rich.

"We will talk to the clubs and try to convince them that in the longer run it is not in their interest if, because of the way money is distributed, national leagues become too imbalanced."