Sources: Liverpool stance revealed as West Ham chief lambasts ‘terrible idea’
Representatives of Liverpool and their allies in the so-called ‘Big Six’ will take a backseat in the public counteroffensive against the government’s independent regulator plans, sources have told Football Insider.
The government has confirmed that the proposed regulator will have the power to stop clubs from joining breakaway competitions, implement a more effective owners’ and directors test’, and mandate a new financial distribution system.
West Ham co-owner David Sullivan and Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish have made public appearances opposing third-party involvement in English football governance in the last 24 hours.
Sullivan labelled third-party intervention in football a “terrible idea” and a “total waste of money.”
It is understood that the strike back against independent regulation is a cohesive effort and one which has generated a rare consensus in the Premier League – from elite clubs to those battling relegation.
But sources have told Football Insider that Liverpool, Chelsea, Arsenal, Tottenham and the two Manchester clubs will not despatch officials to rail against the policy proposal.
It is believed that the six clubs’ involvement with the campaign would be counterproductive in light of their dalliance with the European Super League in April 2021.
Fenway Sports Group have generally adopted a surreptitious approach to public discourse around matters of football governance during their ownership of Liverpool, as have the regimes of Man United, Man City and Arsenal.
Tottenham’s Daniel Levy and Chelsea’s Todd Boehly are generally more forthcoming with their views, however.
While it is overwhelmingly unlikely that the White Paper on independent football regulation would fail to make it through Parliament, the bill is unlikely to become law until at least 2024.
Commentators have expressed concerns about the potential efforts of Premier League lobbyists to water down the proposals while the legislative process unfolds.
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