This file photo dated March 12, 2023 shows sans outside the Old Trafford stadium in Manchester ahead the English Premier League soccer match between Manchester United and Southampton, England. (PHOTO / AP)
LONDON - Experts cautiously welcomed proposals that will create the first ever law in Britain to govern English football, on Tuesday.
Football Governance Bill was unveiled in the Houses of Parliament, promising a bigger say for fans. Under the bill, new owners and directors will also face stronger tests to stop clubs falling into the wrong hands. They face the possibility of being removed and struck off from owning football clubs if they are found to be unsuitable.
"An independent financial regulator in English football is something that we've been waiting for as fans for a long, long time," Jack Sugden, a senior lecturer in sport governance and sport law at Liverpool John Moores University, told Xinhua.
"It's a good step, it's an important step, but I feel like it's a very small step. At first glance it looks like it's a good step, it's an important day, but I would be very surprised if we see any real change to the Premier League."
It seems like they're (Premier League) trying to regulate to show they can and there's no need for this independent regulator. But it seems that regardless of these efforts, the government are pushing ahead of with it anyway. What form that will be when it finally gets pushed through remains to be seen. I'm skeptical.
Jack Sugden, a senior lecturer in sport governance and sport law at Liverpool John Moores University
Sugden said the English Premier League has tried to regulate fairly aggressively where it can, showing itself able to regulate.
"It seems like they're trying to regulate to show they can and there's no need for this independent regulator. But it seems that regardless of these efforts, the government are pushing ahead of with it anyway. What form that will be when it finally gets pushed through remains to be seen. I'm skeptical."
It's a battle, Sugden believes, within the movements that take place at the grassroots level versus the kind of glitz and glamor of the top part of the Premier League.
"It just shows the disparity that's occurring and how the Premier League have really lost touch with that grassroots activism and those grassroots fans," he added.
Sugden said when the short-lived idea of a European Super League was launched and ditched within 48 hours, it was essentially the fans that drove the protests and the activism around upending that push for the European Super League.
"But these owners and the architects of a European Super League, they've just gone away to lick their wounds, to try again," he added.
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This file photo dated Feb 28, 2020 shows the UEFA logo at the organization's headquarters in Nyon. (Fabrice COFFRINI / AFP)
The big clubs, many backed by hedge funds, want an American model so they know roughly how much money they're going to be making each year from a business perspective, Sugden said. "That's where you can sell shares, you can sell the dream, and you can sell profits and you can trade futures. You can't do that, to a degree, in English football, which is part of the beauty of it."
"I think they're going to try again, for sure. There's a battle going on between UEFA, between FIFA, and those architects of the European Super League, so they can create a league in which they are guaranteed to finish within that league, guaranteed a share of astronomical profits year on year. I think that is the ultimate dream for a lot of these hedge funds. American owners and American hedge funds are also the kind of the silent partners of the Premier League in a lot of clubs."
Football management expert Kieran Maguire from the University of Liverpool was also cautious in his response to the proposed new law.
"It has more merits than demerits, but the proof of the pudding will be when the new regulator faces the first crisis and how it is dealt with," he told Xinhua.
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In this file photo taken on April 20, 2021, Chelsea fans protest outside Stamford Bridge stadium in London, against Chelsea's then decision to be included amongst the clubs attempting to form a new European Super League. (PHOTO / AP)
The new system of regulation, added Maguire, couldn't stop the creation of a European Super League. But it could use government-back powers over domestic licenses. That could stop English clubs from playing in English leagues if they joined an ESL.
Everything depends, says Maguire, on the detail with the new law, and the teeth it hands to the regulator.
"The devil is going to be in the detail," said Maguire. "We have seen regulation in industry, such as power, water and media, without much success in resolving problems, but there have also been successes. Overall, the proposals are a better day for football, rather than a good day. I'd give it 7 or 8 out of 10."
The devil is going to be in the detail ... We have seen regulation in industry, such as power, water and media, without much success in resolving problems, but there have also been successes. Overall, the proposals are a better day for football, rather than a good day. I'd give it 7 or 8 out of 10.
Kieran Maguire, football management expert from the University of Liverpool
Meanwhile, politician Caroline Dinenage commented as details of the new law on the governance of the game were published by the British government.
Historic legislation to reform the governance of men's elite football in England and put fans back at the heart of the game is at the center of legislation introduced in the British Parliament.
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Dinenage, who is chair of the House of Commons Culture, Media and Sport Committee, said that "the failure of English football's wealthiest clubs to agree a deal is putting at risk the very fabric of our national game and has dragged on for far too long. Today's firm step towards the introduction of a statutory regulator to hold these clubs to account, the blocking of breakaway competitions like the European Super League, and the stronger tests for owners and directors gives some hope that teams right down the pyramid that are so important to their local communities, can have a sustainable future."
Dinenage said her committee will be looking closely at the new Bill to make sure its proposed powers are fit for purpose.
She added: "We need a regulator that has real teeth. It must be sufficiently independent and resourced and given the powers it needs to rebalance the sport away from the self-interest of the top clubs and deliver in the interests of all fans."
Newcastle United's English defender #33 Dan Burn (left) climbs to win a header from Chelsea's French defender #02 Axel Disasi (second left) during the English Premier League football match between Chelsea and Newcastle United at Stamford Bridge in London on March 11, 2024. (PHOTO / AFP)
The new law will see the introduction of an Independent Football Regulator to give fans a greater voice in the running of their clubs.
The regulator will have the ability to fine clubs up to 10 percent of turnover for non-compliance. It will also block breakaway closed-shop competitions such as the European Super League.
The regulator must be given the power to impose a financial settlement in the interests of the sustainability of the game as a whole. It is far too important to be left to the squabbling between the vested interests of the richest club owners.
Kevin Miles, CEO of the Football Supporters Association
British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has welcomed the new bill. "Football has long been one of our greatest sources of national pride. Up and down the country, it brings people together in celebration or commiseration," he said.
"But for too long some clubs have been abused by unscrupulous owners who get away with financial mismanagement, which at worst can lead to complete collapse. This bill is a historic moment for football fans - it will make sure their voices are front and center, prevent a breakaway league."
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Kevin Miles, CEO of the Football Supporters Association, also welcomed the new bill. "The regulator provides a means to intervene and stop clubs being run into the ground, protect the heritage of clubs, give supporters a much bigger voice in the running of the game, and prevent any chance of domestic clubs joining a breakaway European Super League."
"The regulator must be given the power to impose a financial settlement in the interests of the sustainability of the game as a whole. It is far too important to be left to the squabbling between the vested interests of the richest club owners.