Premier League Cautions of ‘Unintended Consequences’ Following Government’s Establishment of Football Regulator
The new Football Governance Bill introduced by the government will establish an independent regulator with the authority to prevent wealthy clubs like Manchester City and Chelsea from breaking away to form a European Super League, as attempted in 2021.
The Premier League has raised concerns about potential “unintended consequences” following the publication of the bill in Parliament. Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer emphasized that the new independent football regulator will ensure the long-term sustainability of the game, benefiting clubs and the overall football pyramid for future generations.
In 2019, Bury became the first club to drop out of the football league due to financial issues since Maidstone in 1992.
Last year, fans of Reading staged a pitch invasion leading to the cancellation of a match in protest against the club’s Chinese owner. The government’s white paper unveiled in the previous year promised to establish a regulator to prevent financial crises in clubs, safeguard the football pyramid, and prohibit unilateral changes by owners without fan consensus.
Bill ‘Could Weaken the Competitiveness of English Football’
The Premier League expressed concerns about potential impacts on the league’s competitiveness and appeal, emphasizing the need for a balanced regulatory approach to support its position as the most-watched league globally.
English Football League (EFL) Chairman Rick Parry welcomed the bill, aiming to address the financial challenges within the game’s current model.
Precise details of the regulator’s powers are yet to be disclosed, but the government hinted at offering binding arbitration in disputes between the Premier League and the EFL, representing lower-tier football in England and Wales.
Scotland and Northern Ireland, with their distinct football structures, would remain unaffected by the regulator’s oversight.
Labour’s shadow culture secretary Thangam Debbonaire criticized the government for delays in implementing an independent regulator, stressing the importance of fan representation, governance improvement, and protection against detrimental ownership practices.
PA Media contributed to this report.
