Premier League chiefs are bringing in tougher tests for new owners - but they are unlikely to be in time for the Chelsea takeover.
They will bring in a new independent panel to “scrutinise” future buyers after the fall-out from Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich being hit with UK Government sanctions and disqualified from being a club director. Newcastle’s Saudi owners are also under the spotlight after the state carried out 81 executions over the weekend and Labour MP Mike Amesbury questioned whether the Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund are considered “proper and fit” to be running a club in the Premier League.
Premier League executive Helen MacNamara, who is director of policy and corporate affairs, confirmed they are hopeful a new buyer will be secured quickly but the new owners’ and directors’ test may not be introduced in time.
MacNamara, who is effectively the Premier League’s second in command, told MPs in a meeting of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Sub-committee: “We are looking at how the gateway test should be strengthened. We are looking at putting together an independent panel to scrutinise the decisions and we would have liked to have had that in place before now.
“In an ideal world, we wanted to make changes before now and in an ideal world we would like to have that panel in place before the board are asked to to make another owners’ and directors’ test. I don’t really know in the Chelsea case and the time whether we’ll be able to achieve that or not but we do see the case for change and we absolutely recognise that.”
Abramovich has put Chelsea up for sale with US brokers Raine set to choose a preferred bidder by Friday and the Government, the club and the Premier League expect it to go through quickly even if will not allow time for new, tougher rules to be brought in.
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Chelsea are under strict rules following the Government sanctions as new ticket sales have been frozen and the club has been given a £20,000 limit for travel to away games which means they will have to travel to Saturday’s FA Cup tie at Middlesbrough by coach and cannot afford a hotel.
There is frustration at Chelsea that, while the Government raised what they can spend on match days from £500,000 to £900,000 for costs such as stewarding, entertaining and safety, they have not changed the licence on ticketing. Chelsea’s request for the Middlesbrough game to be played behind closed doors will be blocked by the FA and has also been met with a furious backlash and the Government are also frustrated because they insist they are working to find a solution for fans to allow them to get to games.
A Government spokesperson said: “We are meeting on a daily basis with the club and football authorities to discuss further amendments to the licence which is designed to ensure Chelsea can continue to undertake football activity. One of our priorities is to uphold the integrity of the game and Chelsea will have a limited number of fans at the Middlesbrough game on Saturday.
"We are working to ensure more away fans can attend games, but this must be compatible with the licence so we ensure that no additional revenue can be raised given the club is owned by an individual now sanctioned both in the UK and EU.”
Meanwhile, FA chief executive Mark Bullingham has confirmed he will speak to England’s players about human rights issues surrounding the Qatar World Cup when they meet up next week ahead of the friendlies with Switzerland and Ivory Coast.
Bullingham also insisted that England boss Gareth Southgate was fully supportive of the FA’s stand in refusing to play Russia following the invasion of Ukraine as well as any statement from the players about their feelings on Qatar.
But Bullingham did insist he thinks a solution will be found on Chelsea tickets and added: “I think it’s clear what the Government are trying to achieve with sanctions against Mr Abramovich, to put pressure on Putin, it’s not to stop Chelsea fans going to games.”
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