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.
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.
“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.
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.
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.
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
Sole survivors
- Cecelia Crocker was on board Northwest Airlines Flight 255 in 1987 when it crashed in Detroit, killing 154 people, including her parents and brother. The plane had hit a light pole on take off
- George Lamson Jr, from Minnesota, was on a Galaxy Airlines flight that crashed in Reno in 1985, killing 68 people. His entire seat was launched out of the plane
- Bahia Bakari, then 12, survived when a Yemenia Airways flight crashed near the Comoros in 2009, killing 152. She was found clinging to wreckage after floating in the ocean for 13 hours.
- Jim Polehinke was the co-pilot and sole survivor of a 2006 Comair flight that crashed in Lexington, Kentucky, killing 49.
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Toss: Nepal, chose to field
UAE 153-6: Shaiman (59), Usman (30); Regmi 2-23
Nepal 132-7: Jora 53 not out; Zahoor 2-17
Result: UAE won by 21 runs
Series: UAE lead 1-0
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hall of shame
SUNDERLAND 2002-03
No one has ended a Premier League season quite like Sunderland. They lost each of their final 15 games, taking no points after January. They ended up with 19 in total, sacking managers Peter Reid and Howard Wilkinson and losing 3-1 to Charlton when they scored three own goals in eight minutes.
SUNDERLAND 2005-06
Until Derby came along, Sunderland’s total of 15 points was the Premier League’s record low. They made it until May and their final home game before winning at the Stadium of Light while they lost a joint record 29 of their 38 league games.
HUDDERSFIELD 2018-19
Joined Derby as the only team to be relegated in March. No striker scored until January, while only two players got more assists than goalkeeper Jonas Lossl. The mid-season appointment Jan Siewert was to end his time as Huddersfield manager with a 5.3 per cent win rate.
ASTON VILLA 2015-16
Perhaps the most inexplicably bad season, considering they signed Idrissa Gueye and Adama Traore and still only got 17 points. Villa won their first league game, but none of the next 19. They ended an abominable campaign by taking one point from the last 39 available.
FULHAM 2018-19
Terrible in different ways. Fulham’s total of 26 points is not among the lowest ever but they contrived to get relegated after spending over £100 million (Dh457m) in the transfer market. Much of it went on defenders but they only kept two clean sheets in their first 33 games.
LA LIGA: Sporting Gijon, 13 points in 1997-98.
BUNDESLIGA: Tasmania Berlin, 10 points in 1965-66
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