The unhindered power of oligarchs and investors in English football should come to an end: the British government wants to reform the system. In the future, club owners will be checked more strictly and fans will have more influence.
Billionaire oligarchs and investors have total power in English professional football. That should change in the future – at least a little: Great Britain’s government wants to curb the excesses in the clubs with independent supervision and make the system fairer. The new authority should be able to punish clubs that break financial rules and other regulations, British media reported. There should also be a new test for potential club owners before takeovers and fans should be given more say.
The British government is reacting to the turbulence of the past few years. The plan to introduce a European Super League is badly remembered. The big clubs Manchester City, Manchester United, Liverpool FC, Chelsea FC, Arsenal London and Tottenham Hotspur only withdrew their plans after English football fans went on the barricades. The most recent excitement was the takeover of Newcastle United by a Saudi state fund, which provided the middle-class club with virtually unlimited financial resources.
Club owners should be checked more strictly
At the end of last year, Conservative MP Tracey Crouch presented a report that dealt in detail with the problems and shortcomings in English football and contained numerous suggestions for improving the situation. The British government has now signaled its approval of the proposals. How exactly and when they will be implemented, however, is open.
The most important changes: Club owners should not only be checked when they buy a club, but also be monitored afterwards. In principle, clubs should be better protected against the bankruptcies of their owners or arbitrary decisions. For example, it should be checked where the money for the takeover came from, what business connections there are and what kind of business the buyer did in the past.
To mitigate financial inequality, Couch proposes a transfer levy. If a club buys a professional, part of the transfer fee should go to grassroots sport. Ten percent are under discussion.
Premier League rejects plans
Of particular importance is the introduction of greater participation rights for fans, which will also be specified. Solitary decisions by profit-oriented investors, such as supporting a European Super League, selling the stadium name or changing a club crest, are then no longer possible without the consent of the supporters.
Crouch made it clear that an independent control body (“independent regulator”) outside the English Football Association FA was necessary for the time being. Before the FA can take control, it must undergo substantial reform itself. An agreement between the Premier League and the English Football League, which is responsible for the second to fourth leagues, on a redistribution of the billions in revenue is urgently needed.
The plans mean drastic changes for the rich Premier League clubs. As might be expected, they are opposed to reform, particularly the review of club ownership. In a statement, the Premier League welcomed the “stronger regulation” and the “clarity of government” but rejected a “statutory regulator”. So there’s a lot of lobbying to be done in London in the near future, but attempts at repelling it may be too late.
Sources: DPA, “”, “”, “”
Source: Stern
I have been working in the news industry for over 6 years, first as a reporter and now as an editor. I have covered politics extensively, and my work has appeared in major newspapers and online news outlets around the world. In addition to my writing, I also contribute regularly to 24 Hours World.
