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Plans for an independent regulator in English soccer could be put on hold by the UK government in favour of giving the game a fixed deadline to put forward an alternative, according to The Times.
A white paper had been planned for this autumn, but new British prime minister Liz Truss’s administration would reportedly prefer to avoid legislation, although will impose it if necessary.
The previous government, under the leadership of Boris Johnson, had given its formal support to the strategic recommendations set out in the fan-led review published last November.
Recommendations in the review include the creation of an independent regulator to ensure the financial sustainability of the game, greater consultation with fans via shadow boards, additional protections for key items of club heritage, and fairer distribution of money from the top of the game down the soccer pyramid.
In April, Tracey Crouch said the government’s endorsement of the review she chaired was “an enormous step forward” for major reform in soccer. However, she added that the unspecified timeframe for implementing change was “worrying”.
Now, there is ‘huge uncertainty’ from some close to the process that Truss will push through legislation for a statutory body in the near future. Jason Stein, one of the prime minister’s special advisers, is understood to prefer soccer to provide its own solution if possible.
Legislation, however, remains an option for the government if the domestic game fails to find an acceptable agreement involving the Football Association (FA), Premier League and English Football League (EFL).
Truss indicated during her leadership campaign that she would support a regulator but campaigners fear that will be put on hold. Crouch had already told the PA news agency in April that further delays could “be catastrophic for clubs, communities, and fans seeking a more secure and certain regulatory environment”.
The Times report came in the same week that the Premier League met with its 20 clubs to discuss various matters.
PA understands there was no specific discussion on changes clubs would like to see to domestic cup competitions at the meeting on 21st September.
It is understood Premier League sides were unanimously in favour of scrapping FA Cup third and fourth-round replays from 2024 heading into the meeting, with new-look European competitions starting then which will add further fixtures to an already congested schedule.
Third and fourth-round replays have not taken place in either of the last two seasons due to Covid-related fixture congestion. PA understands scrapping them for a third straight season is an option that could be looked at if there is a backlog of matches, with some teams having had two fixtures postponed earlier this month following the death of the Queen.
Premier League clubs are less aligned on their vision for the future of the League Cup, with some – including all of the ‘Big Six’ – understood to favour allowing teams involved in Europe to field under-21 teams or to drop out altogether.
Changes to the domestic cups are just one part of a package top-flight teams are looking at known as the ‘New Deal For Football’ which at its heart would change how money is distributed from the top flight down the pyramid.
No conclusions were reached on the ‘New Deal’ at Wednesday’s meeting but club sources have told PA there is a sense the urgency around agreeing a package has receded due to the change of government.
Nigel Huddleston, who left his role as the government’s sports minister earlier this week, had warned that a proposed new independent regulator for soccer would be given backstop powers to impose a settlement on the Premier League and the EFL if they could not agree one themselves.
PA also understands there was no mention of an all-star match when clubs came together for the shareholders’ meeting.
Chelsea chairman Todd Boehly floated the idea of a North versus South game during a conference in New York last week, and said he had already discussed it with bosses at other Premier League clubs.
Reporting on the Premier League meeting was provided by Jamie Gardner, PA chief sports reporter.
