Gary Neville has taken to Twitter to address a crucial report regarding English football’s proposed independent regulator.
After commentary on Sky Sports during Arsenal’s 1-0 victory over Tottenham in the north London derby, Neville posted an urgent statement that shifted focus from the match itself. Instead, he discussed the independent football regulator, which is part of the recently reintroduced Football Governance Bill. This bill failed to pass under the previous Conservative government before being suspended in May in anticipation of the General Election.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and the Labour government reintroduced the plans in July, aiming to create a body independent from both football and governmental authorities. This regulator would oversee clubs in England’s top five divisions, primarily to prevent financial crises among clubs.
Recently, UEFA communicated concerns about the regulator to Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy, warning of potential ramifications if the government interferes with football governance. They cautioned that such interference could lead to England being banned from hosting Euro 2028, a tournament scheduled to take place in the country, and potentially hinder English teams’ participation in the Champions League.
In a letter from UEFA’s general secretary Theodore Theodoridis, concerns were expressed regarding governmental meddling in football’s administration. The letter emphasized the importance of maintaining sport’s autonomy and fairness, with the ultimate threat of exclusion from UEFA competitions should the rules be breached.
Neville, a strong advocate for establishing the independent regulator, dismissed the threat of a UEFA ban as “scaremongering” and “misinformation.” He stated, “I don’t post much anymore but feel the need to on this subject. Please don’t be fooled by the scaremongering regarding the independent regulator and England losing tournaments.”
He continued, “They will do anything to stop it coming in and are happy to create misinformation and apply soft power in the right places in the meantime. The regulator will have no impact at all on the quality of the Premier League yet will importantly protect the wider game and pyramid.”
“In the unlikely event England did lose hosting tournaments, prioritizing the protection of English football is far more critical than getting a tournament every 50 years,” he added.
Additionally, sources from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport downplayed worries about any UEFA sanctions resulting from the regulator, as reported by The Guardian’s Sean Ingle. The Football Supporters’ Association also reiterated that the regulator aims to remain fully independent from the government.
The Theodoridis letter noted that UEFA was encouraged by the intentions of the original fan-led review into English football but indicated that this regulatory area should eventually revert to the FA.
UEFA reportedly had no concerns regarding the regulator in previous dealings, and a response from the DCMS is expected shortly. SPORTbible has reached out to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport for further comments.
Credit: Sport Bible
