Government has tried to bring in regulator after football chiefs ‘failed’, sports minister says

Fans across the Premier League protested the European Super League

Football bosses were “running out of time” to solve the sport’s problems, prompting the government to intervene with “big, drastic” measures, says Sport Secretary Nigel Huddleston.

The Premier League says it’s ‘not necessary’.

The league says it has been working to “draft and implement policies” in response to the goals of the review.

“We no longer have time to let football sort this out for itself,” Huddleston told ` Sport. “We heard that again and again and were disappointed.

“The Premier League is an incredible success story. We want it to continue to be incredibly successful, but we want the rest of the pyramid to be sustainable too. The Premier League plays a role in that.”

What is the government doing?

A fan-led review by former Sport Secretary Tracey Crouch followed a series of high-profile crises in sport, such as: the failed European Super League and the Collapse of Bury FC.

The government said on Monday it would support the 10 recommendations in the review to “improve financial sustainability and corporate governance in our national game and put fans squarely at the heart of decision-making”.

In its report, the government says that one of the main reasons why reform is needed is the “significant risk of clubs financial failure” and the “risk of damage” to the “cultural heritage of English football” should clubs go under.

The independent regulator will have the power to sanction clubs in English football that break financial and other rules.

A new ownership test will be introduced and legislation will give fans more say in how the game is run.

The government said it was also looking into other issues raised by the review, including the sale of alcohol on grounds. Clubs are not allowed to sell alcohol within sight of the pitch and the government said it would consider pilot schemes in the lower leagues.

A white paper will be published in the summer, but the Football Supporters’ Association has urged the government to “act quickly and implement fan-led review recommendations now”.

“We’ve waited quite a long time for football to solve some of these problems. Unfortunately, they failed so we had to step in,” added Huddleston. “These are really big, drastic and quite complicated steps, but the time has come.

“There is bipartisan support for that, as well as support from fans across the country.”

The Premier League’s stance on an independent regulator in football has left Crouch “disappointed” and she hopes she will reconsider her response.

“I’m not surprised by the Premier League’s reaction,” Crouch told ` Sport.

“I’m disappointed because I would have hoped that now at this point they would have realized that both the review team that pushed the fan-led review and the government took all of these issues very seriously.

“They would have hoped that they were a little more aware of some conflict-of-interest concerns and therefore accepted the proposed reforms, despite the fact that it threatens their authority.

“I hope the Premier League will reconsider their response and actually come forward and help create what I think is a really exciting future for English football.

“I think the Premier League is amazing in many ways… but they have to accept that there have been some flaws in the regulations and structure that they have overseen over the past 20 years and that now is the time for reform.”

The EFL supports the Government’s proposals as they require “a combination of better financial regulation and a fairer reallocation of money across the pyramid” and will continue to work with the Premier League and Football Association to find solutions.

“However, it should be recognized that over the last two years the EFL has attempted to push this issue and has called for a 75/25 revenue split with the Premier League without making any tangible progress,” added chairman Rick Parry added.

“So we also welcome the fact that the government is willing to give the regulator a ‘backstop’ power to implement a redistribution across the pyramid if football is unable to agree on a solution itself .”

“Your ordinary banana is better protected than our football clubs”

Fair Game, a campaigning group that wants football reforms, says an independent regulator is needed and that there should be “nothing to worry” for the game’s administrators.

“These problems have existed for generations. The Premier League, the Football League and the Football Association have clearly not been able to address them properly,” said Fair Game chief executive Niall Couper.

“Look at the other industries that have regulators – banking, education, healthcare and food. Right now – and it’s a ridiculous statement – your ordinary banana is better protected than our football clubs.

“This is ridiculous and we shouldn’t get into a situation like this.”