Prime Minister Liz Truss told Conservative councillors and members that she was ‘completely in favour of the recommendations of fan-led review’ calling for an independent regulator and insisted she was vehemently against a European Super League in private hustings aimed at winning their support over the summer in her bid to reach 10 Downing Street.
Truss was asked the question about the Government White Paper, which was promised for this autumn to bring forward legislation for an independent football regulator, directly on a Zoom call by Conservative councillor Zak Wagman, who is also a board member of the Arsenal Supporters’ Trust, at a virtual hustings to garner support during the summer leadership election.
In the wake of reports, which have yet to be denied by No.10, that the Government is now set to U-turn on its promise to introduce a regulator, Wagman, who voted for Truss in the leadership election, says that he understood from her reply that she would implement the independent regulator.
Prime Minister Liz Truss told Conservative councillors and members that she was ‘completely in favour of the recommendations of fan-led review’ calling for an independent regulator
Wagman said: ‘The independent review made it clear that football couldn’t regulate itself and needed an independent regulator. Her answer to me was a commitment to support that. It’s one of the reasons why I voted for her. I would be extremely disappointed if there is a U-turn on this. I hope the PM will stick to her original inclination.’
Wagman’s intervention comes after Conservative MP Tracey Crouch, the author of the fan-led review which recommended a regulator, said that the hustings promises made by Truss meant this was ‘huge test of her integrity.’
Sources close to the Government insist that nothing has been ruled out and that the regulator has not been abandoned as an option and, as such, reject the characterisation of a U-turn being made.
Truss was also vehemently against a European Super League in private hustings aimed at winning their support over the summer in her bid to reach 10 Downing Street
The controversial plans were initially announced in April 2021 but fell apart within 48 hours
It is said that Truss, who as MP for south west Norfolk, supports Norwich and has attended matches at Carrow Road, absolutely gets that football clubs are community assets and that, as a new Prime Minister, is it normal to assess policy commitments made by Boris Johnson.
The Government appears to be focused pressuring the Premier League into giving the EFL a fairer financial settlement. The commitment not to allow another Bury or another Derby is said to remain firm.
However, it is unclear whether the Government will opt for a regulator to do that.
Fans revolted after the plans were revealed (fans pictured protesting outside Old Trafford)
The Big Six breakaway Super League clubs and the Premier League, who have united to campaign against a regulator, are not off the hook yet as a Labour Government would almost certainly push on with plans to regulate football, a policy which has huge support in crucial constituencies in the north of England.
Premier League meetings at present are attempting to hammer out a compromise agreement with the EFL to reform parachute payments, which are viewed as distorting the Premier League though it seems they would still want some level of support for relegated clubs, which is likely to meet opposition from the Championship.
The EFL wants merit based payments throughout the Championship with no special pleading for relegated clubs.