The FA (Football Association) Premier League is a professional league for English football clubs, operating to promote and relegate the 20 or so clubs within its organization. It is also known as the Barclays Premier League, as Barclays Bank is its current sponsor.

The Premier League was established in 1992 in response to the sorry state of English football. Hooliganism was so bad that English teams were generally unwelcome in European competitions, stadiums were in disrepair and unsafe for spectators and violence at matches resulted in injuries and even deaths. After the riots in 1989 that resulted in the deaths of 96 fans and 150 injuries it was determined that English football needed a drastic change. The Premier League was created in 1992 in order to establish order and raise revenue; they began with assigning television rights and charging fans to watch the matches on television. In 2007 through 2010, the television rights raised £1.7 billion.

The Premier League manages and improves football competition both on and off the field. Their goal is to use media exposure to the benefit of the teams and increase interest in competitions. Revenue is used improve resources and develop playing talent so that England's football teams will be successful. The organization works to develop the game at all levels from youth academies to professional teams.