The Premier League could become the subject of an investigation by the European Commission if it accepts a £1billion bid from Sky for the rights to live football games.

According to The Independent today, Sky has made the £1 billion offer to the League on condition that it is awarded all three possible live rights packages. If it isn't awarded one of them, it will withdraw its offer and pay less for theose packages it does manage to secure.

It was the Commission who pressured the League into splitting its rights down into many smaller packages after Sky was easily successful in its bid for the single live rights package last time around. If true, an acceptance of this latest offer would mean the Commission would have been unsuccessful in its aims, and a full investigation could follow.

Sky's current three-year deal with the League is worth £1.1 billion for 66 games a year. The new contract, beginning in the 2004-05 season, will offer 138 live matches per season.

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