What is really going on in politics? Get our daily email briefing straight to your inbox Sign up Thank you for subscribing We have more newsletters Show me See our privacy notice Invalid Email

We shouldn't be selling off Wembley Stadium - the iconic home to England’s football team and a huge money-spinner.

The Football Association says it would plough a windfall into grassroots sport for 20 years. But there are other, better ways to do this.

As the Premier League kicks off this weekend, it continues to receive at least £3billion from domestic and overseas TV rights.

It’s not hard to see how England’s richest clubs have so much money to share around between themselves.

So the FA should be demanding the government introduce a levy of 10% on the TV income Premier League clubs receive.

(Image: PA)

This would help nurture the next generation of Harry Kanes, Jordan Pickfords, and Kieron Trippiers.

Grassroots football in England is, unfortunately, not as healthy as the Premier League's prize pot.

Only one in three grass pitches are of adequate quality to play football in England, and last season one in six matches were cancelled due to poor facilities.

Meanwhile taxpayers paid out more than £160million to build Wembley.

So any decision to sell off this nationally important venue should not be taken before other alternatives have been exhausted.

The Premier League currently puts just £100million into grassroots football- a pitiful contribution given how wealthy its clubs are.

By introducing a 10% levy on Premier League TV rights, both domestic and overseas, we could avoid selling one of Britain’s great sporting venues into private hands and would be able to invest an extra £200million per year into grassroots sport.

The Premier League clubs might have to accept a small reduction in their prize pot.

But at worst it would mean an annual reduction of between £1million and £4million, less than a reserve team right-back.

The Premier League has a duty to substantially increase its contribution to community and neighbourhood sport.

If it won’t, the government should legislate.