<P> On 8 June 2006, FIFA requested that all major European leagues, including Italy's Serie A and Spain's La Liga, be reduced to 18 teams by the start of the 2007--08 season . The Premier League responded by announcing their intention to resist such a reduction . Ultimately, the 2007--08 season kicked off again with 20 teams . </P> <P> The league changed its name from the FA Premier League to simply the Premier League in 2007 . </P> <P> The Football Association Premier League Ltd (FAPL) is operated as a corporation and is owned by the 20 member clubs . Each club is a shareholder, with one vote each on issues such as rule changes and contracts . The clubs elect a chairman, chief executive, and board of directors to oversee the daily operations of the league . The Football Association is not directly involved in the day - to - day operations of the Premier League, but has veto power as a special shareholder during the election of the chairman and chief executive and when new rules are adopted by the league . </P> <P> The current chairman is Sir Dave Richards, who was appointed in April 1999, and the chief executive is Richard Scudamore, appointed in November 1999 . The former chairman and chief executive, John Quinton and Peter Leaver, were forced to resign in March 1999 after awarding consultancy contracts to former Sky executives Sam Chisholm and David Chance . Rick Parry was the league's first chief executive . </P>

The fa premier league is owned by 20 shareholders who are