There are questions about what the government can do to stop the plan for a breakaway football league

The U.K. government will put “everything on the table” to fight the European Super League plan — but is sitting on the sidelines for now.

Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden told MPs the proposal for a number of elite football teams to form their own league and restrict entry to outside clubs was “tone deaf” and against the spirit of the game.

“Football is in our national DNA,” he told the House of Commons. “We invented it, we helped export it around the world and it’s been at the heart of British life for over a century.” He added: “We will not stand by and watch football be cravenly stripped of the things that made millions across the country love it.”

But Dowden said although the government will launch a fan-led review of the sport, it will hang back for now in the hope that existing football bodies will work out how to block the plan, with sanctions and other measures under discussion.

He insisted: “Be in no doubt. If they can’t act, we will. We will put everything on the table to stop this from happening.” Ministers will consider governance reform in football, he said, as well as tweaks to competition law, higher taxes and stripping clubs of their coronavirus support funds.

But the government could have a fight on its hands if it tries to step in and impose new rules on the sector. “I would quietly advise against the government getting sucked into this in a regulatory manner, because I think it’s a minefield,” said a senior Conservative MP who holds a season ticket for one of the clubs in question.

The super league would hand a guaranteed place every year to the same 15 “founder” teams, even if other sides outperform them, with only five additional places available on merit to outside teams each year. It would prevent rivals from accessing television and sponsorship cash. The move has already sparked the ire of U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson and French President Emmanuel Macron.

But there are questions over what the government can do to prevent the plan going ahead. Jonathan Compton, a lawyer with expertise in competition law, said it could be the English Football Association that falls foul of the rules if it goes ahead with threats for a retaliatory ban on super league teams from taking part in other domestic competitions.

“If you’re a member of the super league and you’re being excluded, by virtue of the fact you’re setting this up, from all competitions regulated by the Football Association, that I think is a real problem,” he said. He added that when it comes to the government blocking the super league plan, “I’m not sure that there is a rule that the government can step in and use here”.

Former Sports Minister Tracey Crouch will lead the government review, which will consider financial sustainability in football as well as governance and whether an independent regulator could help. It will also look at implementing a German-style system whereby supporters hold a majority of voting rights over their clubs.

Club owners, Dowden said, “should remember that they are only temporary custodians of these clubs and that they forget fans at their peril”.

The opposition Labour Party was also supportive of the government’s stance. Shadow Culture Secretary Jo Stevens welcomed the review, but called for more details. “Labour stands ready to do whatever it takes to stop this plan,” she said.

SOURCE

They did settle issues arising in the end

Football is all about money.........not the fans anymore.

Serious cash at stake!

[img]https://media1./images/6cc4005e9c31e608c7d9d39f9499716f/tenor.gif?itemid=21122223[/img]

The breakaway clubs (many in debt) stand to earn extra hundreds of millions yearly.

Good.

My little contribution to the fight

Nah my team Chelsea dey make me wonder here..

Shebi dem suppose keep quiet until we’ll lift this years champions league..

Now uefa will kick dia ass out..

How does that sound ?

Lemme eat first, today's hustle don finish. Na money dey cause all this wahala.



Genius J

Better, Government should take over those clubs and hand it over to the fans from the greedy dubious owners

The Premier League is at the top, and everyone wants to be in the top leagues.

Unai Emery

This Super League thing will happen eventually. Those that will push it to fruition are lowkey not making any noise

I personally want this super league to happen champions league done tire me. when u see the group stage u your self know who done already reach round of 16

Las Las after the ranting I think the super league will stand strong.

The same way the UCL and UEL was born is how the SL has been conceived.

In life we can only progress!!!

Any idea that threatens the existing order must face stiff resistance. Make dem calm down jor!

What's wrong with the so called big 12. Imagine Arsenal claiming big club. I just hope the fans will join forces and boycott their stadia if the ESL gain ground eventually. Lemme see how they will generate the proposed revenue.

Hnmm

Imagine...y wudnt there b match mixing...football has turned very serious business

What Unending Issue!

The trio are among the 12 clubs to have confirmed their plans to form a breakaway European Super League, a seismic move that has been met with widespread condemnation across the football world.

Something must be done about this Super League is.
We want no troubles or problems with our darling football please.
It brings us joy all over the world on a daily and weekly basis.
Football is Life mehn!

Chelsea, Manchester City and Real Madrid will be kicked out of this season’s Champions League by Friday, according to the chairman of the Danish FA.

IMPOSSICANT!!!
It cannot happen this season, maybe in the future, but not now!

..yeye talk.
With heavy taxes, players and agents wages, not forgetting effect of covid 19,how would these clubs survive??


And ESL is offering cool cash, u expect clubs to decline??

NwaNimo1:
Football is all about money.........not the fans anymore.

[img]https://media1./images/6cc4005e9c31e608c7d9d39f9499716f/tenor.gif?itemid=21122223[/img]

The breakaway clubs (many in debt) stand to earn extra hundreds of millions yearly.

It was never about the fans. They only needed the fans because they were paying parts of the bills. Now nothing is coming from the fans...games are being played in empty stadiums.

Buying of clubs kits/products is not reason enough to make fans a priority in this kind of dicision.

Interesting

Association of space bookers unah well done oh

I don't understand one bit of these whole shiit that's going on around the world of my very beloved football world..

They should allow them to go na,na by force to stay?

I want the super league only if it will be like that of dream league soccer game. That game sweet die

The super league is just an Idea to frustrate the current football leagues/cups. Traveling countries to play matches every weekend will be nightmare for the players.







Check my signature for quality and bespoke handmade footwears

Greedy lots all of em

As far as I am concerned, this idea of a Super league is a brilliant idea. I can't wait for it to start.

Is rubbish

like BREXIT like SUPERLEAGUE

Britain weh breakaway from europe wan stop teams breaking away from them.

The modalities of the super league seem rather unjust to the development of football from what I’ve been seeing so far.