Premier League chairman Richard Scudamore to step down | OneFootball

Premier League executive chairman Richard Scudamore is to step down by the end of the year.

The 58-year-old has spent almost 20 years at the head of the Premier League, serving as chief executive from November 1999 to June 2014, when he became executive chairman.

“Executive chairman Richard Scudamore intends to relinquish his position by the end of 2018,” said a statement released by the Premier League.

“He has led the organisation for almost 20 years, overseeing significant growth in attendance, viewing, reach and community involvement both in the UK and globally.”

Among other major controversies, Scuadmore’s time in charge has seen him deal with third-ownership of players, foreign ownership, financial fair play, and contentious plans to introduce a 39th game to the Premier League season.

Scudamore also released a statement, which read:

“It’s an absolute privilege to have been allowed to enjoy this role for so long — it is too much fun to be called a job.

“Football is an intoxicating environment and therefore it is difficult to give up being so involved, but my passion for what football means to so many and the positive impact it can make will never diminish.”

The news comes on top of a busy day for the Premier League. Earlier on Monday it was announced that Amazon have secured the right to show 20 Premier League games per season for three seasons, starting in 2019.

Following on from that, the decision that international broadcasting revenue would no longer be distributed equally to Premier League clubs was made official.