Premier League issues warning to Setanta over rights payments

THE Premier League warned yesterday that it will put the rights held by troubled broadcaster Setanta back up for sale if the Irish group does not pay its next instalment due on Friday.

The Premier League said that it would terminate the existing agreement “if Setanta does not meet certain contractual requirements of the Premier League on or before 19 June 2009.” The football league agreed late on Friday that Setanta could break up its £35m payment, With £10m paid last week, £10m due on Friday and £15m at a later date.

Russian Access Industries has submitted a plan to buy a 51 per cent stake in Setanta for £20m, and Big Brother producer Endemol is understood to be involved in talks with the founders regarding an investment.