John Reid, Surrey Socialist Party
UK and Ireland are due to host the Euros men’s football tournament in 2028. But UEFA has warned that England could face a ban from the Euros and European competitions if government plans to introduce an ‘independent’ regulator go ahead. They claim this would flout UEFA rules of no government interference in the running of football.
A letter to Culture Secretary Lisa Nandy from UEFA General Secretary Theodore Theodoridis says the game’s independence is a “fundamental requirement”.
The government states that “the Football Governance Bill will put fans back at the heart of the game… and ensure football is sustainable for the benefit of the clubs’ communities going forward.” This is a continuance of plans first put forward by the Tories – unlikely therefore to include the kinds of reforms we actually need! (See ‘Tory football review won’t save the beautiful game’ at socialistparty.org.uk)
It is unlikely that it will reach the stage of a ban, but in whose interests are UEFA acting in threatening the government against even the hint of oversight? The fans, or the bosses who want to continue making massive profits? Fans want football to be accountable and are sickened by the greed and poor governance of clubs.
My book, ‘Reclaim the Game’, published by the Socialist Party, calls for the end of ownership by billionaires, dodgy states and unfit owners. Instead, football should be democratically owned and controlled by fans, players and the local community.
We call for a truly democratic governing body which would have the interests of football at heart, not the profit and greed motive. At the moment, unelected boards run football clubs. Fans, players, club staff and the local community should all be democratically represented on the club’s boards. We must regain control of our clubs. Reclaim the game from the billionaires.
