A new independent regulator will have the power to BLOCK clubs joining any new European Super League.
Six English rebels - Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea, Liverpool and Tottenham - backed last season’s controversial attempted breakaway from the Champions League, led by Spanish superpowers Barcelona and Real Madrid along with Juventus. They faced a furious backlash from fans, however, and were forced into a climbdown as the proposal was obliterated by football’s governing bodies.
The idea isn’t completely dead however, with Real, Barca and Juve still trying to convince others that ditching UEFA’s premier competition to set up their own closed shop is the way forward. However, English Premier League clubs are set to find it more difficult thanks to a new independent regulator the UK Government is setting up A fan-led review recommended the body be established to provide some checks and balances to the power wielded by the big English clubs.
The Government will issue a white paper on football governance that outlines what powers the regulator would have. These include:
Stopping English club joining ‘closed shop competitions viewed as harmful to the domestic game’
Preventing clubs going out of business due to financial collapse, such as those seen at Bury and Macclesfield
Applying a more stringent owners’ and directors’ test
Giving fans powers to prevent owners from changing club colours, crests etc
Ensuring a fairer distribution of money earned by the Premier League down through the divisions
A Government statement read: "The English game remains one of the UK's greatest cultural exports, with clubs and leagues around the world modelling themselves on its success," the government said before its white paper on football governance - a policy document which outlines the proposed legislation - is released on Thursday. "That is why the government is today taking the necessary and targeted steps to ensure that continues for generations."
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