The UK government has published a white paper that outlines several proposals to oversee football club finances and empower fans, including the creation of a new regulator, as relays the Goal. Despite this, the owner of West Ham David Sullivan has expressed doubt about the government’s competence to regulate the sport and dismissed the white paper as a mere public relations tactic.
He said: “A football regulator is a terrible idea. The government are terrible at running everything. Look at the mess this country is in. We pay the highest taxes ever for the worst service from the worst government that I’ve seen in my lifetime. The regulator will have a huge staff that football will have to pay for. It will be a total waste of money.”
He added: “Why does an incompetent government think it will improve things? In every area this government is involved in, it has added staff for a worse service. The government are doing this for a PR win. They think it will be good PR to be seen backing the ordinary football fan and smaller clubs.”
The government’s proposals are a response to the unsuccessful effort by several Premier League clubs to establish a European Super League in partnership with other leading teams throughout Europe in 2021, which sparked widespread demonstrations by supporters throughout England.
According to the government, the suggested measures are specific and essential actions to guarantee the long-term viability of football and the Premier League has endorsed the proposals, stating that it acknowledges the need for reform in football governance.