England’s place at the World Cup could be at risk because of government, Premier League warning states

Premier League chiefs have warned the UK government that the proposed introduction of a football regulator in the top-flight could jeopardise England’s hopes of competing at the 2026 World Cup, which is co-hosted by USA, Mexico and Canada.

A report from Sun Sport claims that some of the amendments tabled by MPs to the Bill going through parliament could be perceived by UEFA and FIFA as ‘government interference’.

Something which also threatens to jeopardise three-time winners Spain’s hopes of competing in Euro 2024 next month, if not resolved.

Premier League chief executive Richard Masters has reportedly written a letter to the Culture, Media and Sport select committee, warning them of the impact of the new regulator and how it could affect England’s participation in international tournaments in the near future.

Masters said last month: “The government appears to have written a stronger role than anticipated or itself in this regime. This may lead to pressure for a future Secretary of State to further expand the scope and powers of the regulator beyond financial sustainability. It is important that the regulator is, and is seen to be, fully independent of government.”

Masters added: “Currently, the Bill demands the Secretary of State must write a Football Governance Statement every three years, as well as have the ability to expand the types of financial conditions that can be imposed on clubs. The government would be able to designate additional Premier League revenue to be eligible for redistribution, and to determine what 'significant influence' means when it comes to ownership.

“This is in addition to a very specific clause that states the Regulator must have regard to the trade and policy objectives of the Government when making decisions about the suitability of owners and directors. If this goes too far, it may even conceivably present issues with Fifa and Uefa, whose statutes ban state interference in competitive football."

Since then, the government have dismissed Masters’ comments, claiming that they are completely untrue.

A Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport of the United Kingdom (DCMS) spokesman said: “The regulator will be set up as a new public body to ensure its full operational independence from both the football authorities and government. The issues we’ve seen in the game in recent years have demonstrated that football needs a strong body to independently apply reformed rules to overcome these challenges that the industry has failed to tackle. We will continue to engage with the football authorities, including FIFA and UEFA, as the Bill progresses through both Houses of Parliament."