proposal to change the voting structure of the Premier League, as well as funding models for the English Football League and Football Association, has been drawn up by Liverpool's owners and is backed by Manchester United.

The proposal - called Project Big Picture - includes several other major changes to the structure of English football, including a reduction from 20 to 18 teams in the Premier League and the scrapping of the EFL Cup and Community Shield.

The Premier League issued a statement shortly after the plans were first reported by the Daily Telegraph on Sunday, saying "a number of the individual proposals in the plan published today could have a damaging impact on the whole game".

Initial talks between Liverpool, United and other "big six" clubs Manchester City, Tottenham, Arsenal and Chelsea have taken place with hope an agreement can be reached.

The reform plan, drawn up by Liverpool owners Fenway Sports Group, was started in 2017 and is seen as a radical change to football governance. It's been accelerated by the coronavirus pandemic due to the financial situation facing many EFL clubs.

One of the most appealing parts for some EFL clubs may be 25 per cent of all combined Premier League and EFL revenues going to EFL clubs, with an advance of up to £250m being made available early to help during the pandemic.

The proposed changes would put the majority of the power into the hands of the biggest clubs, ending the division's current one-club, one-vote system.

The plan calls for the nine clubs with the longest continued presence in the league, which includes the 'big six' to be given "long-term share-holder" status and the ability to make changes with the support of just six of the nine.

Along with the £250m up front payment to the EFL, the FA would also receive £100m as a gift.

The plan has the public backing of EFL chairman Rick Parry, the former Liverpool chief executive, who has expressed concern about the state of EFL club's finances.

"Now is the time to address both the long-term health of the game and the most challenging short-term crisis it has ever faced," said Parry, in a statement released by the EFL on Sunday.

"Project Big Picture provides a new beginning which will revitalise the football pyramid at all levels. This new beginning will reinvigorate clubs in the lower leagues and the communities in which they are based.

"This is about building on what is good and making the most of what works well in order to benefit the game as a whole, while simultaneously tackling those issues which trouble all of us. This is a blueprint for the future of English football and for everyone who cherishes it."

The Premier League said it was "disappointed" by Parry's public support for the plans.

As well as the Premier League reducing in size from 20 clubs to 18, there would also be a change to the promotion and relegation exchange with the second-tier Championship.

The bottom two clubs would be automatically relegated from the Premier League and replaced with the top two from the Championship.

The 16th-placed Premier League club would have to play in a play-off with the Championship's third, fourth and fifth-placed teams.

The usual curtain-raising Community Shield match between the Premier League title-holders and FA Cup winners would be scrapped under the proposals, along with the EFL Cup. Other reports have claimed that rather than a complete abolition of the EFL Cup, it could continue without teams who are playing in European competition.

The plan would need the support of 14 of the Premier League's 20 clubs to be approved.

Full Premier League statement

We have seen media reports today regarding a plan to restructure football in this country.

English football is the world's most watched, and has a vibrant, dynamic and competitive league structure that drives interest around the globe. To maintain this position, it is important that we all work together. Both the Premier League and The FA support a wide-ranging discussion on the future of the game, including its competition structures, calendar and overall financing particularly in light of the effects of COVID-19.

Football has many stakeholders, therefore this work should be carried out through the proper channels enabling all clubs and stakeholders the opportunity to contribute.

In the Premier League's view, a number of the individual proposals in the plan published today could have a damaging impact on the whole game and we are disappointed to see that Rick Parry, Chair of the EFL, has given his on-the-record support.

The Premier League has been working in good faith with its clubs and the EFL to seek a resolution to the requirement for COVID-19 rescue funding. This work will continue.

New Barcelona coach, Ronald Koeman has stated that  Luis Suarez could have stayed at Barcelona to fight for his spot instead of taking the easy way out by moving to Atletico Madrid.

Suarez had spent a successful six-year spell at Camp Nou, winning the Champions League along with four La Liga titles among other trophies, and managed to net 21 times in 36 appearances in all competitions in his final season at the club but was sold to Atletico Madrid after Koeman told him he was deemed surplus to requirements.

The 33-year-old striker scored two goals and set up a goal in his debut appearance for Atletico.

Speaking about Suarez’s exit, Koeman says he was happy with Suarez and he did not have to leave if he did not want to.

“In the case of Suarez, it had become very difficult for him to start playing and I made that known to him. He found it difficult, but I never had any trouble with him at all,” Koeman told NOS.

“He trained normally, trained well. He finally made the choice to leave and I said: ‘If you don’t leave, for whatever reason, then you are just one of the group, then you can prove that I was wrong’. He could have stayed, yes.

“I’m good with Luis, but the club felt that we had to rejuvenate. You can see that now in the team. Ansu Fati plays, he is 17 years old. We have Pedri, 17 years old, who gets his chances. Ronald Araujo is there at the age of 21. Trincao falls in a lot and is 20 years old, and we have taken Sergino Dest, who is 19. Those are all players for the future.”

Lionel Messi, Suarez’s best friend criticised the club’s decision to sell Suarez saying the club could have treated him better but Koeman says he has discussed the situation with Messi.

“If you have someone in the locker room with whom you and your wife and children also hang out outside football, then such a reaction makes sense.

“I also said that to Messi: ‘I understand that you are disappointed and think it is a terrible shame that he is leaving, but these are choices of the club’.”

On Messi wanted to leave the club earlier, Koeman says he is happy with his conduct since reversing his decision to leave the club.

“After signing here, I immediately contacted Leo. I went to his house and talked to him about his future,” he added.

“He was clear about his dissatisfaction. In the end it worked out well and from the moment he indicated: ‘I’m going for it’, he has done everything I expect of him.”