a series of payments spread over a period of four years that the Premier League gives to football clubs who are relegated (= moved to a lower group) at the end of a season

Parachute payments were introduced to help relegated clubs absorb the huge losses in revenue that accompany dropping out of the Premier League. 引进降级付费的原因是为了帮助那些因为降级而在财政收入上遭到巨大损失的俱乐部。