Warning over BT ‘windfall’

English clubs should be wary of the “huge windfall” from BT Sport’s staggering new Champions League deal widening the gap between the biggest clubs and the rest in domestic football, a senior figure in European football has warned.

The £897m (€1.069bn) deal, running from 2015-18, should see English clubs’ earnings from the Champions League increase by £15m (€17.8m) to £20m (€23.8m) a year. It will cover both the Champions League and Europa League, and is double the £400m ( €476m) currently paid by Sky and ITV.

Umberto Gandini, organising director of AC Milan and first vice-president of the European Clubs’ Association, believes that the riches of the Champions League will now need to be spread more widely.