Confidential Members' Poll

The FA Premier League Licensing Scheme

Some members have been experiencing problems with the Football Association Premier League Licensing Scheme. They have either been unable to work in football or, at the very least, had to take the only alternative of working through agencies.

Photographer Chris Tofalos says: "The FAPL has claimed that the scheme was created to improve the standard of coverage of matches. In fact, the effect is to drive out independent journalists and the smaller agencies from football, to the advantage of the multi-national photo agencies.

"This has resulted in members losing all their income from football or experiencing reductions in pay, by having to work for lower fees for agencies and losing the opportunity to syndicate their own work."

If you have had any problems with FAPL licensing or the scheme has affected you in any way the NUJ would like to hear of your experiences.

It's in confidence

The NUJ will not reveal any details provided to anyone else without your permission.

If there are sufficient responses that the NUJ feels it will be in a position to commence legal proceedings, and you say you are prepared to give a statement, we will contact you using the details provided.

A: The Premier League licence
0 Did you cover Premier or other league matches professionally before the licensing scheme was enforced?				Y N
1 Do you have a licence to cover the FA Premier League?				Y N
2 Do you have an FA licence to cover the lower league divisions (Championship, etc)?				Y N
3 Have you applied (verbally or in writing) for a licence and been refused?				Y N
If so, please give details:
4 Have you had any difficulty in obtaining your licence?				Y N
If so, please give details:
5 Has a refusal to be granted an FAPL or lower league licence resulted in any financial losses or hardship to you?				Y N
If so, please give details:
6 In the course of any negotiations for a licence, whether successful or not, or any other circumstances, have you ever been abused or treated rudely?				Y N
If so, please give details:
7 Have you any other comments to make?
8 Are you prepared to give a statement of your experiences if the Union decides to commence legal proceedings, or to be included in such action?				Y N
B: You
Are you a:	photographer;  press reporter;  radio reporter;  other.
If other, what?
Your name
Your NUJ membership number
email address
telephone
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