New football regulator: dodgy owners shackled, fans empowered but can it address financial impasse?
The government will present a white paper of reforms to football with an independent regulator the headline item.
Following a period of consultation, those plans will be the turned into legislation “as soon as parliamentary time allows”, the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport says.
The plan for a regulator, recommended by a fan-led review last year, has been confirmed by the UK government. Preventing clubs going out of business is one of the aims, as well as giving fans greater input and the introduction of a new owners’ and directors’ test.
The main purposes of the proposed new regulator will be:
- Stopping English clubs from joining closed-shop competitions such as the proposed Super League
- Preventing a repeat of financial failings seen at numerous clubs
- Introducing a more stringent owners’ and directors’ test to protect clubs and fans
- Giving fans power to stop owners changing a club’s name, badge and traditional kit colours
- Ensuring a fair distribution of money filters down the English football pyramid from the Premier League
However, it is that last item which is likely to be the most difficult for the regulator to achieve.
For the Football League the situation is clear: the football pyramid needs more money from the Premier League. The Premier League believes it gives enough money already, but will consider an increase. The Football League has told its clubs it is “not hopeful” of securing the settlement it is looking for.
The government commented on the financial powers of the regulator saying: “In order to secure the financial sustainability of clubs at all levels, a solution led by those running the leagues and their clubs is needed, and remains the government’s preferred outcome. However, if the football authorities cannot reach an agreement the regulator would have targeted powers of last resort to intervene and facilitate an agreement as and when necessary.”
However, former chairman of the FA, David Bernstein, said the white paper may have missed an opportunity to enforce a settlement. Bernstein told the Guardian that redistribution is an issue the game “has tried to sort out without agreement” and that negotiations are “an unequal struggle” that favours the Premier League.
So, while many of the powers given to the new regulator will be welcome, particularly those targeting dodgy club owners, it looks like there still could be a huge financial impasse between the Premier League and the rest of the English game. The Football League commented on the white paper with these telling comments – “English game needs a fundamental financial reset in order make the game sustainable.” Until that happens it will always be a game of haves and have-nots and not a level playing field.