May 14 2002

ITV Sport Channel

The Football League is to sue the owners of ITV Digital for the £178.5m still owed to its clubs for TV rights payments.

The League is ready to take ITV Digital's backers Carlton and Granada to the High Court.

It is also going for a separate £500m damages claim against ITV, which it claims acted with ITV Digital to "exploit the League's media rights".

ITV Digital went into administration last month still owing the Nationwide League clubs two years' TV payments.

But both parties in the dispute feel they are confident of winning.

League chief executive David Burns said: "Leading counsel has advised that the League has a strong case."

A Granada spokesman said: "We have robust legal advice that we have no liability for the Football League contract. We will defend the claim vigorously."