Premier League clubs fear Labour clampdown after independent regulator shelved for general election
The introduction of an independent football regulator has been shelved after the Prime Minister called a general election for July 4.
The Football Governance Bill imposing a statutory watchdog on the game would have needed to be rushed through in the next week to be made law in the current parliament.
The bill had only recently reached the committee stage and, amid a May 30 deadline for any outstanding legislation to be passed, it would have been all but impossible for MPs to debate in full amendments that had already been tabled.
The bill will almost certainly be resurrected whoever wins the election, with Labour having pledged its support to an independent regulator. But it remains to be seen how much of a priority its reintroduction would be for whichever party or parties end up forming a new government.
The surprise general election is a mixed blessing for Premier League clubs who are opposed to a regulator.
On the one hand, they may welcome any delay in the introduction of a statutory watchdog. On the other, Telegraph Sport has been told clubs fear that Labour will grant the regulator even more powers than the Conservatives.
Those fears appear to be well-founded after an amendment to the bill was tabled this week over what would happen if the Premier League continued to fail to strike a deal with the English Football League over its long-awaited £900 million football support system.
The draft bill gave the regulator the power to impose such a deal on the world’s richest league but controversially prohibited parachute payments – which the EFL want scrapped – being taken into account.
The new amendment, which had Labour front-bench backing, would effectively see that prohibition lifted.
The Premier League declined to comment on the shelving of the bill, but EFL chair Rick Parry said: “Whilst we had hoped to see the Football Governance Bill passed into legislation in the current parliament, the EFL remains committed to working with the new government to ensure no further momentum is lost post the outcome of general election.
“The existential systemic issues facing the game from top to bottom are not going away without external intervention and the introduction of a regulator will assist clubs at all levels to operate in a financially sustainable way so that they can continue to thrive for the benefit of their fans, local communities, and our national game.”
The chief executive of the Premier League, Richard Masters, had previously warned of the “unintended consequences” of the bill during an appearance before the Football Governance Bill committee this month.
Supporter groups, meanwhile, proposed an amendment that would prevent English teams playing competitive matches overseas without their fans’ consent.
Dame Tracey Crouch MP, the former sports minister who chaired the government’s Fan-Led Review of Football Governance that helped shape the draft bill and who was a member of the Football Governance Bill committee, confirmed the legislation had been shelved on Thursday morning.
Crouch, who is stepping down as a Conservative MP after the election, posted on X: “Unfortunately the Football Governance Bill will progress no further and although there is a ready made Bill for the next Government, I won’t be here to see it pass. I just wanted to say a massive thank you to EVERYONE who helped shape this Bill.
“A lot of people have poured their heart and soul into the Bill - officials, politicians, authorities, clubs and of course fans. I am 100% convinced there will be an Independent Regulator for football, thanks to the efforts of others and the desire for sustainability.
My final plea is to the Premier League and EFL... please, for the sake of football, sit back down and start negotiating a deal. The impasse is infuriating. I know it is complex. But please, agree a deal. The End.”
