English football earthquake! The white paper on football governance has sparked controversy, and the Premier League and European Premier League may be dealt a heavy blow

On Thursday, the British government will unveil plans for an independent watchdog, known as the "Football Governance White Paper," which aims to give fans a greater say in the club's operations. Premier League clubs, however, are worried about the plan.

A new regulator will be born

In April 2021, after widespread fan resistance to the European Super League plan, the UK government proposed a plan to commission a fan-led review, led by former sports secretary Tracy Crouch, a year after the official unveiling of the plan and the establishment of an independent regulator in the future.

The main purpose of this body is to oversee the licensing system to ensure that the club can continue to operate and avoid repeating the mistakes of Bury and Michael Sfield. The regulator will also conduct stricter owner tests as well as board member tests to better protect clubs and fans.

At the same time, the agency will ensure that fans have a greater say in the operation of the club, and if the club owner tries to change the club's name, crest, shirt color, then fans will have a say. Clubs must also seek regulatory approval for any sale or relocation of the stadium.

Following the revelations of the 2021 European Super League plans, regulators will have the power to block English clubs from playing new competitions that do not meet predetermined standards, and will take steps to prevent clubs from participating in closed matches that would harm domestic competitions.

If the Premier League, the English Professional Football League (EFL) and the Football Association are unable to reach a new settlement on how top league finances can support lower leagues, regulators could step in and force arbitration.

The UK government is confident that the powers of the regulator will not be balanced in a way that undermines the competitiveness and strength of the Premier League, with Prime Minister Sunak saying: "These bold new plans will put fans back at the heart of football, preserve the rich heritage and heritage of our beloved club, and preserve these wonderful sports for future generations." ”

Tracy Crouch said, "This is an important day for football in this country and I am pleased that the government has acted in accordance with the key strategic recommendations in my review. The introduction of a new independent football regulator will enhance our incredible pyramid and give investors, fans and communities confidence in the governance of the club so they can thrive in the best league in the world. Without fans, football is nothing. The announcement of this plan will ensure that they remain central while continuing to grow at home and abroad. ”

The Premier League is worried

Despite Crouch's confidence, Premier League clubs appear worried. In a statement issued, the Premier League said: "The publication of this white paper is an important moment for English football. The Premier League and Premier League clubs will carefully consider the government's plans to make England the first major country to make football a government-regulated industry. ”

"We are strengthening our ownership rules and have already provided £1.6bn of financial support for competing at other levels in the current three-year cycle. It's vital that regulation doesn't hurt fans' ability to enjoy watching in the world's finest professional pyramid, or the event's ability to attract investment and increase interest in our games. ”

"We are working constructively with stakeholders to ensure that the proposed government regulator does not lead to any unintended consequences that could affect the Premier League's most watched league status, reduce competitiveness or put unrivalled money at risk."

David Sullivan, one of West Ham owners, said: "The football regulator is a terrible idea. Regulators will have a large workforce, and football will have to pay for it. It's a complete waste of money, and I bet its size and cost grow every year. Aston Villa boss Boslow also said that excessive regulation could kill the "golden goose" of the Premier League.

Weakened "Golden Goose"

The biggest controversy in the white paper is that regulators will force the Premier League to reach a financial support deal with the English Professional Football League (EFL). EFL president Parry is now asking the Premier League to allocate 25% of its £3.5bn a year television revenue to the lower leagues, the Championship, League A and League Two, while abolishing the parachute system.

The Premier League said in a statement: "We are committed to providing football-led solutions to address key issues, including financial allocation, financial control and football fixtures. The Mirror reads that the Premier League is worried that investors will stop buying clubs or investing heavily in signings if they fear conflict with regulators.

In a statement, the Championship said-for-tat: "After extensive consultations, the Crown is pleased to note that the announcement on the independent regulator recommends 'overseeing the financial sustainability of the game'. We welcome the fact that regulators will have the last resort to intervene and facilitate agreement if necessary. ”

In fact, this will be the first thorny problem for independent regulators, with the Premier League breaking spending records in the winter window, while the Championship and League One clubs face long-term financial threats that would be seen as too weak if regulators are unwilling to step in.

Intriguingly, the UK government consulted four clubs, Derby, Luton, Plymouth and Trenmir, before publishing the white paper, but did not consult any Premier League clubs.

Controversy continues

In addition to the Premier League, which is worried about the future, the white paper is also controversial. The plan proposes a pilot for select lower-level clubs to allow the sale of alcoholic beverages on the pitch, against which British football policing chief Mark Roberts has made clear.

Perhaps to appease Premier League clubs, the plan will review Britain's existing player visa regime to see how football continues to attract the world's best talent. Since Brexit, Premier League clubs have not been able to sign players under the age of 18 from other leagues.

For her part, Lucy Powell MP criticised the British government for its slow move, "It took 15 months for the government to finally publish a football white paper, Derby County almost went bankrupt, Oldham Athletic, Chelsea changed hands, Manchester United, Newcastle, Liverpool and Bournemouth were all put up for sale, the Premier League and EFL have not reached a financial agreement, and now the 2.0 version of the European Premier League is back on the table." ”