The British government will establish an independent regulator in English soccer to deal with the game’s finances, club ownership and corporate governance, despite the Premier League’s insistence it is unnecessary.
The regulator will be backed by primary legislation to provide it with the statutory powers to licence and sanction clubs, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport said on Monday.
The government will endorse the 10 key strategic recommendations set out in its fan-led review of governance in the game, which was published by former sports minister Tracey Crouch in November.
The review looked into problems in the game following fan protests over lower league clubs going into administration and controversial plans from the top clubs like the proposed breakaway European Super League.
The regulator will also be tasked with applying an enhanced owners’ and directors’ test, both ahead of an acquisition of a club but also on an ongoing basis.
“This will include a new ‘integrity test’ for all owners and executives, and enhanced due diligence – including sources of funding – upon an acquisition,” a DCMS statement said.
It will replace the current tests administered by the Premier League, English Football League and the Football Association.
The regulator will also be given the power to exercise financial oversight of clubs, including information gathering, investigation and enforcement powers.
“It is the government’s view that this should be solved by the football authorities in the first instance,” the statement added.
“Further details on the government’s preferred option, including on regulatory ‘backstop’ powers will be set out in the white paper.”
The Premier League said it accepted the government’s case for reform but added a statutory-backed regulator was not necessary and that it has its own plans to ensure fans voices are listened to.
The English Football League would support an independent regulator if it provided a way to “reset the game’s finances”, through better regulation and fairer redistribution across the pyramid, its chairman Rick Parry said.
Campaign groups expressed backing, but also concern that the legislation was not being scheduled sooner amid concern the delay would enable proposals to be watered down.
© AAP
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