Football White Paper: UK Government to release new Premier League legislation aimed at stopping ‘greedy’ European Super League clubs and ‘dodgy’ owners
The Premier League is set to finally have new radical legislation enforced by the UK government which puts tighter restrictions on who can buy football clubs and how they are run.
The government is pressing ahead with a massive shake-up to club football with the introduction of a new independent regulator, despite opposition from the Premier League.
3
The so-called ‘Football White Paper’ is yet to be released but has been seen in advance by The Sun newspaper, and will trigger a major shake-up in how clubs are bought and managed.
The new rules will enforce tougher regulations on who can own football clubs, and will ensure only ‘fit and proper custodians’ can take over.
It’s an attempt to prevent multi-millionaires who can’t prove the source of their wealth and that they built their fortune legitimately from owning English sides.
The Sun also report claims the legislation will stop ‘greedy clubs’ from joining breakaway competitions like the European Super League.
ESL plans first surfaced in 2021 with several big Premier League clubs involved, but they and other leading European giants pulled out after widespread protests.
Real Madrid, Barcelona and Juventus are among the elite European outfits still keen on resurrecting the plans, though.
3
3
Most read in Football
The reform will also stop club owners from changing kits and logos.
The White Paper will also give fans more of a say in how clubs are run.
The UK government will have the power to intervene if the English Football League are not happy with the amount of TV revenue that will be filtered down to the lower leagues from the Premier League.
It is understood the EFL and its clubs remain frustrated with lack of progress on talks with the Premier League about a ‘new deal for football’, and hope the shake up will see them get a bigger share of TV revenue to help the growth of the English football pyramid.
Meanwhile, all clubs in the top five flights of English football will need to gain a fresh licence to play under the proposals.
It is claimed the White Paper will be signed off by the Cabinet soon, with the view to have the new regulations in place for the 2024/25 season.
Topics