Sources: Liverpool and co. braced for critical blow in next 24 hours as leaked details emerge
Liverpool and their allies in the Premier League are readying a counteroffensive ahead of the release of a government White Paper on independent football regulation, sources have told Football Insider.
The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport will set out plans for the regulator tomorrow, outlining sweeping and fundamental changes to football governance in England.
It is understood that stakeholders and select members of the mainstream press were invited to DCMS’s headquarters in Whitehall today to be briefed by Adam Conant, head of sport at DCMS, and sports minister Stuart Andrew.
Football Insider can reveal that the content of the White Paper remains unchanged since the leak – which, it is understood, was orchestrated directly by Number 10 – to The Sun on 1 February.
A more stringent Owners’ and Directors’ Test, backstop powers against Super League-style breakaway competitions, and real-time monitoring of club finances are among the measures presented in the policy proposal.
Perhaps the most significant element of the regulator, however, will be its authority to implement a new financial distribution system between the Premier League and the Football League.
The Premier League and its members are determined to chart their own regulatory path and are vehemently opposed to the concept of third-party involvement.
They are preparing to retaliate against DCMS’s proposals, which are not likely to become law until at least 2024.
The Football League is believed to be broadly supportive of the motion.
Prime minister Rishi Sunak will be personally involved in the launch, which he believes is a guaranteed vote-winner.
It is likely to be stage-managed on location at a football club.
The White Paper was due to be published several weeks ago but was delayed by the Premier League’s announcement of over 100 charges of financial impropriety against Man City.
Many commentators suggested that the Premier League’s act of aggression against City was a direct attempt to prove to DCMS that it can self-govern.
In other news, Liverpool have active interest in sensational signing after private talks (not Bellingham).