The English government reiterates its intention to have football controlled by an independent authority. Many detailed questions remain open. The resistance of the Premier League is gentle, there could be a pragmatic reason for that.
The monarch traditionally announces the government’s legislative proposals in the United Kingdom, and so it was on Tuesday (November 7th, 2023) Charles III. in the so-called “King’s Speech“, who listed what Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and want to implement his cabinet in the future.
The government may be entering its final year, as recent polls show Sunak’s Conservative Party at 26 percent. Labor is clearly ahead with 45 percent. Elections must take place in Great Britain by the end of January 2024 at the latest.
Check owners better, control finances, let fans have a say
The initial situation could play a role in one of the mentioned projects of the Tories, as the Conservatives are called. They had already in February of this year in one “white paper” announcedthat they want football to be supervised by an independent authority to be established in the future. The party is now confirming these plans. The law, which still has to be introduced and overcome parliamentary hurdles, will be for the benefit of footballfans be, promised Sunak.
In theory it sounds like it, because fans should be allowed to have a say in the future. This is shown by the position paper from the British Ministry for Culture, Media and Sport. Accordingly, the new body should have extensive powers over key issues in the top five English men’s football leagues:
- Club owner: The examination for club owners and board members is to be expanded. The sale of stadiums and the relocation of clubs should also require approval from the authorities.
- Finance: The goal is for clubs to go through a new licensing process “solid financial business models and good corporate governance” of the clubs. Last was the FC Bury with a forced relegation, the FC Macclesfield dissolved due to tax debts, Derby County was relegated to the 3rd league after a points deduction and insolvency proceedings.
- Co-determination: fans should at least partially be given the opportunity to participate in the clubs’ decisions. The aim is to prevent owners from changing the colors or logos of the clubs, as is the case, for example Cardiff City happened.
- Super League: There were protests against the Super in England League 2021, at which six clubs from the Premier League wanted to take part, particularly large. The independent regulatory authority should be given the power to generally prevent clubs from participating in such leagues. This is currently looming Premier League Breakaway clubs will be deducted 35 points from the table.
“Our plans will ensure clubs manage their finances responsibly”said the responsible minister Lucy Frazer when the plans were presented in February. “They will prevent unscrupulous owners from treating clubs as commodities rather than the beloved community asset that they are.”
Premier League criticized: “We are becoming a state-regulated industry”
The Premier League expressed himself cautiously. It said in a statementthe league will carefully examine the government’s plan, “under which England will become the first major nation to make football a state-regulated industry”.
To date, criticism has been muted, and that could be due to the political mood. The Tories for example, supported the sale Newcastle United, which is majority owned by a fund backed by Saudi Arabia. A government led by the Social Democrats Labor Party could possibly take more stringent consideration of factors such as respect for human rights and be more rigid about the origin of money.
Better now a law from the Tories than later a sharper one Labour – that may be the idea Premier League.
Many questions remain unanswered, especially about sanctions
Even though the position paper has long existed and the government has confirmed its plans, many questions remain unanswered. For example, what the authority’s sanction options will ultimately look like.
According to a report in the newspaper “The Times“There will be a range of public slandering (“naming and shaming“) to fines and license revocation. However, the reputable newspaper also writes that it will take longer before the authority can begin its full work. This will not happen until the 2025/26 season at the earliest.
The fanalliance “Football Supporters Association” (FSA) was still satisfied. Spokesman Kevin Miles said: “It is a very significant moment for football and we are very happy that we are already at this stage of the process.”