Could England be banned from Euro 2028? Starmer pushes Uefa for football regulator

The move could see England excluded from Champions League and other European competitions

Spain's Alvaro Morata lifts the Uefa Euro 2024 trophy after his team beat England in the 2024 final. Getty

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer has said his plans for an independent football regulator will not breach rules on government interference, despite Uefa warning that the move could see England banned from Euro 2028.

The governing body voiced concerns that the proposals could threaten the autonomy of sport, but Mr Starmer said he was sure ministers could “find a way through”.

Uefa general secretary Theodore Theodoridis has warned that the plans, set out in the Football Governance Bill, could lead to England’s exclusion from the union.

That severe sanction would mean teams would no longer be able to compete in the Champions League and other European competitions, including the Euro 2028 tournament England is set to co-host.

Britain's Prime Minister Keir Starmer in the garden of 10 Downing Street during a reception for athletes from Team GB and Paralympics GB on September 17. AFP

Asked whether he would change UK government plans for a football regulator in response to Uefa’s concerns, Mr Starmer told reporters: “I don’t think there’s any problem with the rules, because this is a truly independent regulator.

“But as you’d expect, we’re talking to Uefa and I’m sure we’ll find a way through this, but I’m confident that our rules are perfectly consistent, and that the regulator is truly independent.

“But of course we’re talking to Uefa to make sure that we can ensure that everything is possible.”

Asked if he was seeking to persuade Uefa that the government’s plans did not amount to a breach of the rules, Mr Starmer said: “I mean, I don’t think it does, I don’t think it’s a problem.

Euro 2024 Team of the Tournament. AFP

AP

EPA

AFP

AFP

Getty Images

EPA

AP

AFP

AFP

AFP

“But of course, we’ll talk to them if they’ve got concerns. I think they’ve slightly reduced their concerns as time has gone on, but obviously I’ll discuss their concerns.”

The Football Governance Bill was first introduced under the previous Conservative administration and adopted by Labour after the election.

It includes measures to establish an independent regulator to address the financial resilience of clubs and prevent breakaway leagues.

Uefa general secretary Theodore Theodoridis. Reuters

Mr Theodoridis has written to Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, in a letter reported by The Times, saying there should be “no government interference in the running of football” and that an independent regulator could lead to England’s exclusion from Uefa.

It is understood the Department for Culture, Media and Sport will respond to the letter shortly and that there have been no previous concerns raised by Uefa, which has been engaging alongside the Football Association with the new government over the development of the Bill.

Uefa sources have indicated that it is not opposed to a regulator as such, and the letter even referred to the “collaborative dialogue” with the DCMS. But Mr Theodoridis did express concerns about the risk of “scope creep”.

He said the regulator’s remit should be “strictly limited” to the long-term financial sustainability of clubs.

Interim manager Lee Carsley could see his England team banned from the Champions League and other European tournaments. PA

Uefa sought clarification around one clause in the Football Governance Bill as presented under the previous government, which obliged the regulator to consider the government’s trade policy objectives when assessing the suitability of an owner or buyer of a club.

The letter also highlighted concerns around the plan to give the regulator backstop powers to impose a financial settlement between the Premier League and the EFL if they cannot agree on one themselves.

Former Manchester United defender Gary Neville, who is a high-profile supporter of independent regulation, described reporting around the letter as “scaremongering”.

The Football Governance Bill was included in the King’s Speech in July, making it part of the new Labour government’s legislative agenda for the current parliamentary session.