English football’s proposed independent regulator, according to West Ham United’s major owner David Sullivan, will be a “complete waste of money.”
One of the suggestions of a fan-led inquiry into the governance of the professional game, the independent regulator, was described in a government white paper that was issued on Thursday.
The regulator, according to sports minister Stuart Andrew, would provide a more sustainable path for the football business by assuring adequate financial management of clubs, qualified ownership, and increased fan participation.
The Premier League, according to Sullivan, does an excellent job of dispersing its enormous revenue down the English soccer pyramid and does not require control.
“Football will be required to pay for a sizable staff at the regulator. It will be a complete financial waste. He told the Daily Mail, “I bet it gets bigger and costs more money every year.
“The Premier League is the world’s best-run and most prosperous league. More than any other league in the world, it supports grassroots, the PFA (players’ union), and lower levels. It’s an excellent export.
The government’s ‘A Sustainable Future – Reforming Club Football’ white paper, which was released on Thursday, is focused on creating an independent regulator, the first of its kind for soccer in the world.
Before passing it into law, the government will consult with interested parties, such as the Premier League and English Football League. Sullivan contends that the football industry should be let to run its own course.
The 74-year-old went on to say, “The government is doing this for a PR win. They believe that showing support for smaller teams and common football fans will boost their public image, but I bet it won’t get them a single additional vote. I support free enterprise over governmental meddling.
ROUGHER CHECKS
Clubs are extremely appealing financial options for potential owners, particularly from the United States and the Middle East, due to the wealth of the Premier League’s TV rights. A separate authority would impose more stringent controls on prospective owners.
The Premier League has responded to the release of the white paper by stating that it recognizes the need for a change in football governance but has already begun to establish “stronger and more autonomous self-regulation.”
It stated that it will carefully study the government’s proposal but issues a warning that excessive meddling may have “unintended consequences” and damage the competitiveness of the Premier League.
The Premier League released a statement saying, “We appreciate the Government’s commitment to protect the Premier League’s continued success.”
The potential of regulation to draw investment and increase interest in our game must be protected in order for fans to continue to enjoy watching the game at the highest professional pyramid in the world.
In response to the government’s proposal for a more equitable allocation of wealth among the leagues, the Premier League stated that it is already giving the larger game financial support of 1.6 billion GBP (1.93 billion USD) over the course of the current three-year cycle.
