The Premier League must:

Roles and objectives

The Premier League must:

Manage, continually improve and be regarded as the world's best league football competition - on and off the field.

Increase interest in our competitions, promote accessibility to live games and ensure that media exposure is used to optimum effect.

Generate increased commercial value, using the resulting revenues to further enhance our competitions and strengthen the long-term future of the Premier League and its clubs.

Use our power and influence responsibly to improve the game in this country and abroad through partnership with the FA, UEFA and other bodies.

Create a quality of competition that provides a platform from which our member clubs can achieve unparalleled success in European or World competitions.

Use our resources to develop playing talent that will provide for international success with the England team at all levels - with the status of World Champions being the realistic goal.

Our relationship with the clubs

The Premier League is owned by 20 Shareholders - the member clubs, whose membership in the league is dependent on the performance of their football team in the Barclays Premier League.

The shareholders meet quarterly. Any shareholder can table a motion to be discussed at the meeting. Each shareholder is entitled to one vote and all rule changes and major commercial contracts require the support of two thirds of the clubs voting at a general meeting.

The Football Association is also a special shareholder. They have the right of veto in certain crucial areas, such as the appointment of Chairman and Chief Executive and promotion and relegation, but have no say on other areas of Premier League work.

The day-to-day business and statutory company responsibilities are handled by the Board of Directors, which comprises of Chairman and Chief Executive, and the full-time members of staff at the Premier League.

Shareholder meetings are held every other month during the season and the AGM is a two-day meeting held during the close season.

At the Summer AGM, relegated clubs will transfer their ordinary share to the promoted clubs.

The Premier League & other football bodies

The Barclays Premier League is widely regarded as the elite club competition in world football.

Like every other league in England, the Premier League comes under the jurisdiction of the Football Association (the FA) and must submit its rules each year for approval and sanction.

The FA's primary objective is to develop the game at all levels, from the England national team down to grass-roots football and youth academies. Along with its British partners in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, the FA comes under the control of the European governing body - the Union of European Football Associations (UEFA).

Formed in 1954 and based in Geneva, UEFA works and acts on behalf of the member associations to promote football and ensure its well-being on the continent. The organisation is responsible for many high-profile competitions, some involving national teams such as the prestigious European Championships. UEFA's premier club competitions are the European Champions League and the UEFA Cup, in which Premier League clubs aspire to compete and succeed on a yearly basis.

The FA and the 50 other associations of UEFA are all affiliated with the world's governing body - the Federation of International Football Associations, or FIFA.

The scope of FIFA's roles and duties has vastly expanded in recent years, and the body is supported in its task of organising, promoting and developing football by the six confederations across the globe. The AFC in Asia, CAF in Africa, CONCACAF in North and Central America and the Caribbean, CONMEBOL in South America, the OFC in Oceania and UEFA comprise 204 member associations in total.

FIFA, formed in 1904 and now one of the world's biggest sports organisations, strives to safeguard the game's good image and it is responsible for the Laws of the Game, which are based upon the rules that were first ratified in 1886.

The rules and regulations are discussed on a yearly basis by the International Football Association Board, which comprises four representatives of FIFA and one each from England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, acknowledging the significance of the British associations in the history of the game.

FIFA can also boast the World Cup as its prized asset the ultimate stage on which a professional footballer can perform and a tournament which captures the imagination of the entire planet.

job opportunities

To view current vacancies at the Premier League, click here

Barclays Premier League

Tottenham		V		Man City	14 Aug 12:45
Aston Villa		V		West Ham	14 Aug 15:00
Blackburn		V		Everton	14 Aug 15:00
Bolton		V		Fulham	14 Aug 15:00
Sunderland		V		Birmingham	14 Aug 15:00
Wigan		V		Blackpool	14 Aug 15:00
Wolves		V		Stoke City	14 Aug 15:00
Chelsea		V		West Brom	14 Aug 17:30
Liverpool		V		Arsenal	15 Aug 16:00
Man Utd		V		Newcastle	16 Aug 20:00

The Italian's future hangs in the balance...

The Italian's future hangs in the balance...

1

Photo Gallery

Zoom

Mario Balotelli - Inter (Getty Images)

Related Links

Teams

• Inter Milan
• Man City

Players

• Mario Barwuah Balotelli

provides the best breaking news online and our ootball fan community is unmatched worldwide. Never miss a thing again!Italian champions Inter and Manchester City have held discussions on a possible deal over striker Mario Balotelli, according to reports.

Sky Sport 24 claim that officials from both camps met on Thursday evening to discuss a possible deal. It's been reported that the Nerazzurri have informed City representatives that they will not sell the teenage striker on the cheap.

It's also been reported that Man City offered Inter €25 million for the highly rated striker during the meeting but the European champions have rejected that bid, dismissing it as being too low.

Balotelli has been linked with a move to the Premier League over the summer, with Manchester United, Chelsea and Manchester City all interested in his services. With Chelsea ready to submit a €30 million bid for the player, the Citizens are looking to ramp up their efforts to sign the 19-year-old.

Earlier on Thursday, Inter president Massimo Moratti admitted that the European champions could be persuaded to part company with the highly rated striker, but made it clear that a huge offer must be put on the table.

"Mario has started training again with professionalism," Moratti told Sky Italia. "He is a player of great talent. He has offers from other clubs and we are evaluating them.

"City and United are serious clubs who will be evaluating their transfer strategy.

"For the moment, we are far from this solution."

Argentina to offer Diego Maradona new four-year deal

How Maradona inspired a nation

Diego Maradona will be offered a new deal that would keep him in charge of Argentina through to the summer of 2014 - when Brazil stages the World Cup.

He led Argentina to the 2010 World Cup quarter-finals in South Africa and the contract would mean he would be still be coach if they qualify next time.

The Argentine Football Association president Julio Grondona will meet the 49-year-old next week.

Maradona had hinted he would quit after the 4-0 last-eight defeat by Germany.

Grondona intends to have talks with Argentina's former World Cup-winning captain no later than Wednesday of next week to discuss extending his contract.

Despite leading Argentina to victory at the 1986 finals in Mexico as a player, Maradona was a controversial appointment as coach in 2008.

Maverick Maradona's sideline exploits

He had little coaching experience and had endured a host of personal problems following his retirement.

However, Maradona guided Argentina to the recent World Cup finals after a late winning goal in their final qualification match against Uruguay.

In South Africa, Argentina looked like convincing contenders for the trophy, comfortably winning their first three group matches and their last-16 clash with Mexico.

But the well-organised German outfit negated Argentina's array of attacking talent, including Barcelona star Lionel Messi, Real Madrid striker Gonzalo Higuain and Manchester City's Carlos Tevez, before ruthlessly highlighting the defensive frailties of Maradona's side.

"I may leave tomorrow," was Maradona's immediate response to the exit from the tournament.

But he added: "We will see what happens. I haven't thought about leaving. I have to check that with my family and the players and there are things I have to consider."

Sir Alex Ferguson backs Wayne Rooney to bounce back

Rooney did not score for England in four games at the World Cup

Manchester United manager Sir Alex Ferguson has backed striker Wayne Rooney to bounce back from his poor showing for England at the World Cup.

After a stunning 34-goal season for United, Rooney failed to score in four matches in South Africa as England were knocked out by Germany in the last 16.

But Ferguson said: "I don't expect a hangover. But I think there'll still be disappointment in the lad."

Rooney, 24, has been left out of United's tour of North America to rest.

Ferguson has also left Patrice Evra, Michael Carrick, Nemanja Vidic and Park Ji-Sung in England to recover from their exertions in South Africa.

"I think all the players coming back from the World Cup who didn't do well, who didn't reach their expectations may I say, will feel that they've missed something," explained Ferguson, who was speaking at the official launch of United's new kit for the 2010-11 season.

"That's because the World Cup's only once every four years. That's the horrible part of that tournament.

606: DEBATE Looks alright! Can't beat those Umbro 90s kits though. That 1996 kit with OT faded into the background and the big Cantona collar! Chris

"We have several players who have come back very, very disappointed. We've Patrice Evra for instance, Wayne Rooney of course, and Nemanja Vidic."

Despite negative World Cup experiences for Rooney, Evra and Vidic, Ferguson has backed Mexico striker Javier Hernandez, a summer signing from Chivas de Guadalajara, to build on his impressive showing in South Africa.

"I think one player who will come back quite positive because he had a good World Cup was young Javier Hernandez. I think he did very well and he surprised a lot of people," said Ferguson.

"So whereas we've got some disappointments from players like Wayne, Nemanja and Patrice, I think we're going to have a positive effect from Javier."

United open their four-match North America tour in Toronto on Friday against Scottish Premier League side Celtic.

Ferguson's side begin their Premier League season on 16 August when newly-promoted Newcastle travel to Old Trafford.

Juliano Belletti to join Fluminense after Chelsea exit

Belletti helped Chelsea to the Premier League and FA Cup double last season

Brazilian club Fluminense are set to confirm the signing of Juliano Belletti after agreeing terms with the former Barcelona and Chelsea defender.

Belletti, who was released by Chelsea in the summer, will pen a two-year deal subject to completing a medical.

The 34-year-old arrived at Stamford Bridge in 2007 and made almost 100 appearances over a three-year period.

Chelsea announced in June that they would not be renewing the contracts of Belletti, Joe Cole and Michael Ballack.

Belletti, capped 25 times by Brazil and a member of the 2002 World Cup winning squad, joined Chelsea from Barcelona a year after scoring the winning goal in the Catalan side's Champions League final victory over Arsenal.

His career began at Cruzeiro before moving on to Sao Paulo, Atletico Mineiro and Villarreal.

« Previous | Main Spain worthy winners on a tough night for Webb

Tears poured from the face of Spain captain Iker Casillas at the sound of the final whistle - but there was no sadness from the goalkeeper, only joy. Andres Iniesta's goal four minutes before the end of extra-time had given the Spanish their first World Cup triumph - and there is no doubt that they deserved it.

They might have lost their opening game but they won the six that followed and conceded just twice in the entire tournament. They may have scored a mere eight goals - the lowest tally ever by a trophy-winning side - and won all their knock-out games 1-0 but this was no repeat of Greece in Euro 2004, no attempt by a limited team to pack their midfield, stifle their opponents and strike on the counter attack.

No, this Spain team moved the football and teased their opposition with intelligence, skill and technical brilliance. They did it until their opponents could no longer resist the passing and probing of a team that treated the ball as its friend, even the much-reviled Jabulani.

There was no finer example of that than Sunday's final encounter at Soccer City. The Netherlands left nothing on the field after a performance that saw them harass and harry their opponents but Spain enjoyed 60% of the possession and gradually ran their opponents into the ground.

It was not a major surprise that, apart from Sergio Ramos's early header, Vicente del Bosque's side created most of their openings in the latter stage of the contest.

The timing of Iniesta's winner was also consistent with Spain's manner of victory in the knock-out stages of this competition. They scored after 63 minutes against Portugal, 82 against Paraguay, 73 against Germany and 116 in the final. They passed their opponents into submission before delivering the decisive blow.

Just look at the statistics. Going into Sunday's match, Spain completed 3,387 passes, with Xavi alone executing 464 of them and Gerard Pique, a central defender, totalling 378. The Netherlands, in contrast, managed 2,434.

Spain deserved to win this World Cup, as Iniesta claimed after the game, but this was not a classic final, far from it. The first half was extremely disappointing.

There was a definite niggle between the two sets of players - and plenty of theatrics. Robben was particularly guilty, both in the way he protested against decisions and the manner in which he went to ground.

The Netherlands were obviously intent on stopping Spain, although Dutch coach Bert van Marwijk insisted his players stayed within the law. "It is not our style to commit horrible fouls, it is not our kind of football," he pleaded.

Nine bookings and a red card for defender John Heitinga tell a different story, although Marwijk laid some of the blame at the door of referee Howard Webb, the first Englishman to take charge of a World Cup final since Jack Taylor in 1974.

The 38-year-old Yorkshireman set a new record for a World Cup final by issuing a total of 14 yellow cards during the contest.

There is no doubt that he made a few mistakes. He should arguably have given Nigel de Jong a straight red in the opening half after the Manchester City midfielder floored Xabi Alonso with an absurdly high boot to his opponent's chest. Dutch enforcer Mark van Bommel could also have been sent from the field for repeated fouling, including a crude scythe on Iniesta that resulted in a booking.

But it was Webb's display in the final few minutes that really infuriated the Dutch, in particular his failure to award them a corner when a free-kick took a sizeable deflection off Fabregas. Webb gave a goal-kick instead - and within a minute, Spain scored.

At the final whistle, the official was surrounded by complaining Dutchmen, with Robben briefly suspending his crushing disappointment to run towards the official, thereby joining several team-mates in close proximity of the referee.

Yet Robben might be better served contemplating how he missed a gilt-edged chance to put his side in front in the second half. I thought he was his team's most threatening player but, after collecting a wonderful defence-splitting pass from Wesley Sneijder, he could find no way beyond the excellent Casillas.

It was a real head-in-hands moment for the ex-Chelsea player - and the camera cut back to him several times over the following minute, each time capturing an image of disbelief.

It came as no surprise when Webb was roundly booed by the Netherlands supporters as he collected his medal but the Dutch had a plan to stop a superior team - and that plan was always going to bring the referee into play.

But enough about Webb. Let's now focus on the match-winner: Iniesta.

I am a huge fan of the 26-year-old midfielder, who is not only a gifted footballer but also, it seems to me, a man of huge integrity.

After scoring the goal that gave Spain victory, he removed his top to reveal a T-shirt with a hand-written message on it. We have seen plenty of these down the years but this one struck me as being particularly memorable. It said: "Dani Jarque: siempre con nosotros". It means "Dani Jarque - always with us" and refers to the Espanyol player who died at the age of 26 on a pre-season tour last year.

Espanyol are city rivals of Barcelona but Iniesta was a team-mate of Jarque's with the Spanish Under-17, Under-19, Under-20 and Under-21 teams. The two men were great friends and Iniesta was greatly upset by Jarque's death.

Iniesta's gesture was without doubt my favourite moment of the final. It told me that Iniesta and his team have a style and class that transcends their footballing ability.

Without question, Spain are worthy champions.