May 18 – A UK parliamentary petition has now topped more than 100,000 signatures calling an independent regulator in English football.
The petition was launched by former players including Gary Neville and other former England internationals Gary Lineker, Rio Ferdinand, Jamie Carragher and Micah Richards.
In an open letter that has been signed by 23 ex-players and thousands of fans, reference is made to the aborted European Super League plan, saying: “It was a direct threat to the integrity of the game; destroying the concept of sporting merit and open competition.”
“Supporters came together with one voice to oppose the cynical power-grab by a group of wealthy owners. The furious protests were heard and the breakaway fell apart” it continued.
“Without swift and direct intervention, the return of a European Super League will be a constant threat,” the letter added, calling for “government legislation to block any Premier League clubs attempting to abandon the country’s football pyramid.”
Last month, England’s Big Six joined a cabal of European elite clubs to launch a breakaway European competition to usurp the Champions League. It was met with a tsunami of protest from fans and all corners of the football industry. The UK government responded to the ESL debacle with a promise of launching a fan-led review into English football to scrutinise ownership, finance and supporter involvement in the game.
Premier League chief executive Richard Masters, however, has been quick to shoot down the idea of an independent regulator. In a call to allow the Premier League and football generally to continue to self-regulate, he said: “It’s appropriate that football comes up with new proposals around fan representation and consultation. We have to be open to regulatory change but I don’t think the answer is an independent regulator. I would defend the Premier League’s record in regulating its clubs.”
Contact the writer of this story, Samindra Kunti, at moc.l1720039358labto1720039358ofdlr1720039358owedi1720039358sni@o1720039358fni1720039358