Powers of new football regulator could be scaled back amid concerns it will ruin Premier League
DOWNING Street may clip the wings of the new Independent Football Regulator amid concerns that it will ruin the Premier League.
The powers of the planned watchdog could be scaled back to avoid hampering investment, Bloomberg reported.
That followed The Sun’s revelation that there are growing fears the project is duff, amid PM Sir Keir Starmer’s clampdown on red tape.
On Monday a top minister refused three times to confirm if the regulator will go ahead.
Legislation to set it up is currently working through Parliament.
Officials are said to fear it could dissuade foreign investors from buying football clubs, which in turn would restrict growth in the footy sector.
The Prem is the most watched football league in the world, broadcast into 900 million homes in 189 countries.
In February Reform UK MP Rupert Lowe, former chairman of Southampton FC and FA Board member, warned the organisation would destroy the Premier League.
Speaking to The Sun’s Never Mind The Ballots show, he said: “The Premier League’s an unbelievable success.
“It brings huge soft power to Britain, it brings huge amounts of tax revenue to the Exchequer.”
He then warned that London’s once world-beating financial centre was “destroyed by regulation”.
He asked: ““Will the Government take responsibility if football goes the same way as our financial markets after they introduce a regulator?
“Light touch self-regulation built the Premier League. Regulation will destroy it.”
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